Crystal Palace v Newcastle - Preview and possible lineups

Crystal Palace: Bakary Sako is out for the season after fracturing his ankle against West Ham midweek. Yohan Cabaye is expected to line up in his place whilst Mamadou Sakho could return in defence. New signing Alexander Sorloth could make an appearance off the bench. Much of the focus will centre on former Newcastle players Cabaye and Andros Townsend, the latter of whom left the 'Magpies' for Palace following their relegation to the Championship in 2016. 

Newcastle: Rafa Benitez is still waiting on the status of new striker Islam Slimani. Martin Dubravka could start in goal replacing Karl Darlow and the fit-again Rob Elliot. Florian Lejeune and Jesus Gamez remain sidelined.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson:

"Things are different from when we last met Newcastle. We were so far divorced from safety at that stage and now we aren't. It's foolish to think our problems are at an end, we've just given ourselves a chance. To concede that late header last time was a major blow. We lost a point and gave Newcastle all three. (I'm) expecting a tight game."

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez: 

"They are a good team with very good players. It is a difficult stadium and a difficult place to get points. But we must have confidence we can do it. It is very close at the bottom and for us it is another challenge to survive."

Form:

Did you know?

Newcastle won the last meeting 1-0 with a late header from Mikel Merino. 

Possible lineups:

Crystal Palace: Hennesey, Ward, Sakho, Tomkins, Van Aanholt, Cabaye, Milivojevic, McCarthur, Townsend, Benteke, Zaha

Newcastle: Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu, Shelvey, Merino, Murphy, Perez, Slimani