Crystal Palace will be looking to make it five wins in a row this Wednesday as they take the trip to Southampton.
Sam Allardyce’s men have been in excellent form as of late and have turned the tide in their season, going from what looked to be relegation fodder to a team that oozes solidity and positivity.
The Eagles will be full of confidence heading to St Mary’s in midweek off the back of Saturday’s quite stunning 2-1 win away at league leaders Chelsea, and they’ll be hoping to clinch yet another victory on the road.
However, Saints will be looking to get back to winning ways after their frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
Both teams have key players missing but both have the quality to hurt each other, so it should be an interesting affair between Allardyce’s side and Claude Puel’s.
Here’s how we think a combined Saints and Palace line-up would look.
Wayne Hennessey
Hennessey hasn’t been at his best this season but has been better than Fraser Forster, who has seriously underwhelmed. The Welshman makes the team in the absence of Steve Mandanda.
Cedric Soares
Although Joel Ward is a good player, Cedric is that bit better and makes this team.
Maya Yoshida
Yoshida is better than Jack Stephens and Damien Delaney and given the absence of Virgil van Dijk, he makes the cut.
Mamadou Sakho
Sakho’s an undisputed starter here. He’s been imperious.
Ryan Bertrand
Bertrand is up there with the best in the league at left-back, and he eases into this side.
Oriol Romeu
Romeu has been superb for Saints this season and gets into this side.
Yohan Cabaye
Cabaye has been excellent in recent weeks and slots in next to Romeu in the middle.
Wilfried Zaha
Zaha has been outstanding all season and breezes into this team.
Sofiane Boufal
Boufal has an enormous amount of talent and gets in as the number ten.
Nathan Redmond
Redmond has been excellent for Saints this season.
Christian Benteke
With Manolo Gabbiadini injured, Benteke is the obvious choice here. He loves a goal against Southampton, too.