TEAM NEWS
Wilfried Zaha returns from suspension, has decided to appeal against an additional one-game ban. West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic has recovered from the foot injury that saw him miss Monday’s draw with Liverpool.
Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins misses out with a calf strain, while Cheikhou Kouyate has an ankle problem and Connor Wickham is also ruled out.
Samir Nasri, who has missed the Hammers‘ last two games with a calf injury, is not yet ready to return.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
Martin Fisher: Selhurst Park is the worst venue for goals this season in the Premier League but this London derby usually delivers. Most recently two months ago, when West Ham came from behind to win a five-goal thriller during their best spell of the campaign.
They’ve slumped since, although they were much improved against Liverpool and it will be fascinating to see if fit-again Marko Arnautovic gets a recall.
Wilfried Zaha will surely return for Palace after his initial one-game ban as the Eagles look to fly further away from the relegation zone by recording back-to-back wins for only the second time this season.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: “It was a good game [last time the teams met]. I think the margins are often very small when teams in a similar position meet – they are very tight, hard-fought games.
“In the last few weeks our goalscoring record has not been that bad at all. We’re putting that right and it’s good to have so many players who can come on to the field and score a goal, maybe the winning goal.”
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini: “I think that Crystal Palace has a very good squad, not only a team. They have important players in attack and they have a manager who knows all about football.
“Roy Hodgson is more experienced than me and, of course, I think he is an example for every manager who wants to continue working with the same intensity and same desire.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
Crystal Palace have won their past two home games in the league and FA Cup but their results at Selhurst Park have been iffy this season, and I think a draw is the most likely outcome here.
Prediction: 1-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- West Ham are unbeaten in seven league meetings (W4, D3).
- Palace are without a win in their last four home games against West Ham (D1, L3).
Crystal Palace
- Palace are aiming to win back-to-back league matches for only the second time this season.
- They have won just three league games at Selhurst Park in 2018-19, and have earned more points and victories on the road.
- The Eagles have kept nine clean sheets this season – only the current top four have more.
- There have been just 19 league goals at Selhurst Park this season, at least six fewer than at any other stadium.
- Luka Milivojevic has scored 15 penalties in the Premier League since February 2017. No other team has scored more than 10 in total in that time.
West Ham United
- West Ham have won just one of their last five league matches (D2, L2).
- They have lost three league away fixtures in a row without scoring.
- The Hammers have kept four clean sheets in their 25 league games so far – only Fulham have fewer.
- West Ham have won nine league games already this season, having only won 10 in total in 2017-18.
- They could register four successive Premier League victories in London derbies for the first time since February 1996.
Source: BBC News
