Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest go into the final day of the Premier League season safe from relegation.
Just a few weeks ago, Crystal Palace were in danger of the drop. Patrick Vieira was sacked and Roy Hodgson was brought back to manage the team.
😍😎#CPFC pic.twitter.com/1y0lDzK8EX— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 24, 2023
😍😎#CPFC pic.twitter.com/1y0lDzK8EX
Hodgson surprisingly brought attacking football with him, leading Palace to 11th place ahead of matchday 38. Palace cannot finish any higher but can end the season with 47 points if they win against Nottingham Forest.
Forest shocked Arsenal 1-0 on matchday 37. The win secured safety for the Reds after a tumultuous season. The club stuck with manager Steve Cooper, who led the team to safety with 37 points.
Forest are on a three-match unbeaten run, which got them over the final hurdle.
Nottingham Forest defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 at the City Ground earlier this season. Morgan Gibbs-White scored the game’s only goal in the 54th minute. Gibbs-White has been one of the most reliable players in attack for Forest this season.
Crystal Palace go into matchday 38 unbeaten in back-to-back games. A 2-0 win over Bournemouth was followed by a 2-2 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Hodgson’s Palace are unbeaten in four straight matches at Selhurst Park ahead of Forest’s arrival.
The Reds, on the other hand, took an impressive 10 points from the last six matches. Manager Cooper is now on the radar of other clubs around the Premier League.
Forest surprisingly didn’t sack Cooper when the results were poor. Their decision ultimately led to Forest remaining in the top flight.
Forest’s biggest problem this season has been their away form. The Reds are the worst away team in the Premier League, with just seven points from 18 games. Just one win was obtained from their opening 18 road fixtures.
Hodgson does not need to risk certain players on Sunday. Wilfried Zaha will miss the game through injury. It would have been his last at Selhurst Park. Zaha’s contract is up at the end of the season. Nathan Ferguson, Jeffrey Schlupp, James Tomkins, and Luka Milivojevic are all ruled out.
Cooper has a long list of injuries, so it is good Forest have a big squad. The likes of Dean Henderson, Neco Williams, Omar Richards, Chris Wood, Scott McKenna, and Jack Colback are all ruled out of action.
Palace should post a final day of-the-season win at home. Forest do not play well on the road, and their away form should see them fall 3-1 at Selhurst Park.