Crystal Palace will kick off their 2020-21 Premier League campaign at home against Southampton on Saturday.
The Eagles finished 14th last season, and will hope to finish higher up the league table this season and play with more consistency.
Palace have not been very active in the transfer window, and have signed just two players – the highly-rated Eberechi Eze from QPR, and Nathan Ferguson from West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer.
But, the Eagles still have their star man Wilfred Zaha in the ranks, who will once again be their most important player. The last time Palace and Southampton squared off in the Premier League, the Saints won the game 2-0 at Selhurst Park.
Let’s take a look at the potential Crystal Palace lineup:
Crystal Palace Team News
Hodgson has several of his first-team players out due to injury. Centre-backs Gary Cahill, James Tomkins, and Mamadou Sakho will miss the game, as well as their first-choice left-back Patrick van Aanholt and new signing Nathan Ferguson.
Strikers Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham will also miss the game due to injury, while another new signing Eberechi Eze, is a doubt for the game.
Predicted Crystal Palace Lineup vs Southampton
Goalkeeper
Vicente Guaita should be Crystal Palace’s first-choice keeper for the 2020-21 season. He was largely consistent last season, and will look to continue in the same vein of form.
Defence
The injuries to several centre-backs has meant that midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has moved back to play as one of the central defenders. He should start the game alongside the experienced Scott Dann in the Crystal Palace lineup.
Van Aanholt’s injury means that young Tyrick Mitchell should start at left-back, while Joel Ward should play on the opposite side at right-back.
Midfield
Centre-back Jairo Riedewald has been surprisingly used as a defensive midfielder in the pre-season games, and he could start in that position. Hodgson has not started club captain Luka Milivojevic in any of the four friendlies.
Ayew
Zaha
Schlupp – Riedewald – McArthur – Townsend
Mitchell – Kouyate – Dann – Ward
Guaita
This could mean that Riedewald could start alongside James McArthur or James McCarthy. Hodgson has used a unique 4-4-2 formation in the pre-season friendly game, with one of the wingers playing further forward during attacking situations.
Wilfried Zaha, Jeffrey Schlupp, and Andros Townsend have played as the wingers. Two of these three players should start on either wing in the Crystal Palace lineup.
Attack
Injuries to Benteke and Wickham has meant that Andre Ayew has played as the main striker, with one of Schlupp or Zaha playing a supporting role.
We could see Zaha play up top alongside Ayew, with Schlupp playing on the left to track back to help young left-back Mitchell.
Ayew had his best goal-return for Crystal Palace last season, managing nine goals. He will hope to hit the double-digit mark this season and help the team to a higher finish.