Crystal Palace arrested a run of three defeats when they held onto a 2-2 scoreline to draw against Arsenal. Luka Milivojevic scored twice from the spot to halt the Gunners’ impressive winning streak. The point has given a huge boost to the players, especially with a daunting run up ahead in November. Palace face Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in this incredibly difficult month and will have to deal with injuries to a couple of crucial first team players.
Roy Hodgson has rung in the changes in both games in the tournament thus far and we expect nothing different tomorrow. He made nine and ten changes in games against Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion respectively. Even though he may field a weakened side, opposite number Pulis has already stated his intentions to make a number of changes which will likely make this a more balanced affair.
HISTORY OF THE FIXTURE
Middlesbrough have lost the last three matches played between the two. The last time these two sides met in the League Cup was in 2011 where Crystal Palace had emerged 2-1 winners. Pulis will be facing his former side where he managed for nine months. Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson has not managed to beat Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium failing in all the three attempts he has had thus far.
TEAM NEWS
Christian Benteke is expected to remain out till the New Year. Joel Ward will also miss the action as he is recovering from a muscle injury. The third person on the injury list is Scott Dann who is scheduled to return in mid-November from his long-term knee injury.
PREDICTED CRYSTAL PALACE LINEUP VS MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2)
DEFENCE
Vicente Guaita is expected to start in goal once again having kept a clean sheet against West Brom.
Martin Kelly might have to shift to right-back with Ward missing out through injury. The central defensive partnership can feature Jairo Riedewald and the 20-year-old Sam Woods. Pape Souare might start in place of Van Aanholt in the left-back slot.
MIDFIELD
Max Meyer has completed 90 minutes in just two games this season with both of them coming in this competition. He will once again start in midfield alongside Cheikhou Kouyaté, who won his side a penalty in the last game before coming off in the 88th minute.
On the left, Jeffry Schlupp will take his place while Jason Puncheon is likely to start on the right-flank having come off the bench against the Gunners.
ATTACK
In a front-two, Alexander Sorloth is highly backed to start but Hodgson might go for a surprise selection alongside him with Conor Wickham an option.
