It’s fair to say that Sunday’s early afternoon fixture at Selhurst Park could become a defining moment for both Crystal Palace (7pts) and Newcastle United (8pts). With both clubs floundering lower-midtable, each side knows they’re one loss away from dropping into the relegation zone.
Under Pressure
A 5-0 shellacking by your fierce rivals puts any manager under the gun. Palace’s Pierre Sage is no different. He was reportedly given a warning after the Brighton defeat: turn the club around or be cast adrift. To be fair, a 2-2 draw against Beşiktaş in their house is a solid result under any circumstances, but questions about the Palace defense will continue to be asked. The Eagles have shipped 17 goals in league play, the most of any club. At this point last year, they’d allowed five. Even accounting for the loss of Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Muñoz, and a series of injuries, that is an awful reversal for a side last year whose success was predicated on a stalwart back-line.
Lest we forget, Newcastle paid Al-Ahly $12.7M to lure Matthias Jaissle Tyneside. Internal reports indicate that the executive team is giving the 38 year-old German a long leash to implement his vision. But up in the stands, the Newcastle fans are already tiring. Jaissle loves his 4-2-3-1 formation, but with Bruno Guimarães no longer slotting into the no.10, it hasn’t been working. His insistence on high-octane pressing has exposed the defense, particularly Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw.
In the Wings
Let’s not forget the surfeit of battle-tested Premier League managers who are currently lounging at home, on the sofa, awaiting a call-up. There’s Eddie Howe, whose dismissal from the Magpies eliminates him from that spot. He’s been rumored as a possible Michael Carrick replacement, but why not Palace? Thomas Frank may have slunk away from Tottenham with a bruised reputation, but he’d be a fine fit for either side. Even novice gaffer Kieren McKenna has his arm raised eagerly, though he’s saddled with some financial baggage after departing Ipswich (any PL team signing him would have to pay out to the Tractor Boys).
Crystal Palace Team News
The Eagles received some good news earlier this week when 1st choice keeper Dean Henderson returned to training. He won’t be available for this tie, however. They also welcomed the return of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored a golazo against Beşiktaş and welcomed back his trademark corner flag kicking celebration. Expect to see him operate as a super-sub, along with Ismaïla Sarr, who is healthy but not yet starting-fit. Yéremy Pino and Daichi Kamada have been exceptional, and Quinten Timber is a fabulous counterpoint to Adam Wharton in the central midfield. Takehiro Tomiyasu is still out with a calf injury, meaning 18 year-old Honest Ahanor or Axel Disasi will be among the back three.
Possible Starting XI
W. BenÃtez;
A Disasi, C. Richards, J. Canvot;
T. Mitchell, Q. Timber, A. Wharton, A. Khalaili;
Y. Pino, D. Kamada
E. Nketiah
Newcastle Team News
Not having played a mid-week competition should give the Magpies a slight edge. They’re still missing Ewen Jaouen (hamstring) and Valentino Liveramento (knock), and while Jacob Ramsay is back in training he is not expected to feature on Sunday. Anthony Elanga is a question mark; any playing time will come off the bench.
Possible Starting XI
L. HornÃcek;
L. Miley, M. Thiaw, S. Botman, L. Hall;
N. González; Joelinton;
M. Fernandez-Pardo, J. Willock, H. Barnes;
Y. Wissa
Match Preview
Both teams are porous in defense. It’s hard to see this match not having at least four goals, and quite possibly more. Offensively, each club has scored a similar number of goals, but Palace have better options now that Mateta and Sarr are healthy again. The edge is there.
The Qooligan is an alias of Hooligan Soccer founder Q Williams. Q is a 20+ year veteran of numerous technology and media companies, including MTV, Gracenote, Watchwith and Crunchyroll. He has a master’s degree in European History from Columbia University. Q is also a respected Sports Journalist with extensive experience in Soccer, particularly the Premier League, Champions League, MLS and USL. The Qooligan provides analysis and valuable insights based on years of professional practice. Connect with The Qooligan on X and Bluesky. He is committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy content that reflects expertise, experience and no shortage of attitude.
