It may seem silly to call matchday 11’s fixture between Crystal palace and West Brom a six-point game.
However, just six points separate the two teams after 10 matchdays and a loss for Crystal Palace would suck them down into a battle for relegation.
.@MatheusPereira 𝘃 @CallumRobinson7. Get in, Robboooo! 👏🤣@MonsterEnergy | #WBA pic.twitter.com/KIsxnWJ4Lz— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) December 4, 2020
.@MatheusPereira 𝘃 @CallumRobinson7. Get in, Robboooo! 👏🤣@MonsterEnergy | #WBA pic.twitter.com/KIsxnWJ4Lz
The Eagles have taken 13 points from 30 possible. They sit 15th in the league and have the potential to move up the table or down this weekend, depending on their results.
West Brom have been largely bad in the early stages of this season. The Baggies have taken a mere six points from 30 possible. Slaven Bilic’s team are a Championship-quality team and have played as such.
On matchday 10, West Brom ended a three-game losing streak against Sheffield United – another relegation-threatened team. A win on Sunday at home could send West Brom out of the relegation zone depending on results elsewhere.
Kieran Gibbs and Jake Livermore are doubts for West Brom going into the game. The duo has recovered from positive COVID-19 tests, but according to Bilic, may not be fit to play the game.
Sam Field is likely to miss the game due to an injury and positive COVID-19 test. He is still not ready to play. Conor Townsend is likely to sit out the game as well due to a knee injury.
Roy Hodgson has had players test positive for COVID-19 as well. Wilfried Zaha and Luka Milivojevic are both doubts for the game. They are on the comeback trail from bouts with coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Conor Wickham, Nathan Ferguson, and Wayne Hennessey are all missing in action. The trio’s respective injuries will keep them sidelined.
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in five straight games against West Brom in all competitions. The Eagles won four of those five matches.
Their last meeting came in 2018-19 in the Carabao Cup as Crystal Palace won 3-0, scoring in both halves.
If Zaha doesn’t play – he leads the team with five league goals – Crystal Palace will struggle to create goalscoring chances. West Brom’s defence has conceded the second-most goals in the Premier League, however.
Hodgson’s side should get at least one goal while the defence keeps West Brom out of net. Crystal Palace should get a narrow win at the weekend, moving three points away from the relegation zone.
The match should end with under 2.5 goals scored as Crystal Palace get just their second clean sheet this term.