- Crystal Palace face Newcastle
- Oliver Glasner has one eye on Fiorentina clash
- Eagles likely to be rotated
Crystal Palace might just have one eye on their trip to Florence when they host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday (April 12th). It’s all but certain that the Eagles will remain in the top flight next season.
Oliver Glasner is now entering the final two months of his historic reign at Selhurst Park. The European adventure continues for him and his men and they took one giant step towards the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
A 3-0 win over Fiorentina in the first leg on Thursday has put the tie firmly in their hands. But before they finish off the Italians next week, they come up against a struggling Newcastle side.
Eddie Howe’s men suffered a disastrous 2-1 loss at home to Sunderland at St James’ Park before the international break. Their hopes of European qualification are in jeopardy as they sit 12th in the league, four points off seventh-placed Brentford.
Crystal Palace Team News
Glasner has insisted he won’t make drastic changes to the team that beat Fiorentina. But he revealed in his post-match press conference that he intends to rest Jean-Philippe Mateta and instead start Jorgen Strand Larsen up top.
The Norweigan striker sat out the midweek win against the Serie A side due to suspension. He had led the line ever since arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers in January.
Glasner will likely rest Evann Guessand, who picked up a knock against Fiorentina. The Ivorian attacker came off for Yeremy Pino in the second half.
Eddie Nketiah has been ruled out for the rest of the season, while Cheick Doucoure still doesn’t seem ready for first-team action. They are the only injury concerns ahead of the Newcastle game.
Expected XI
With such an important fixture on the horizon, it seems likely Glasner will still make some changes to his starting XI. Dean Henderson should still start after overcoming illness just prior to the international break.
Brennan Johnson might be given a chance to impress and start at right wing-back, allowing Daniel Munoz to rest. A back three should include Jaydee Canvot, Maxence Lacroix and Chadi Riad.
Chris Richards sustained a knock during international duty so it’s important that the American’s minutes are managed. He played the full 90 minutes in the win over Fiorentina.
Tyrick Mitchell was on the scoresheet in the 3-0 victory. Borna Sosa’s difficult season means it’s unlikely he is rested at left wing-back.
In the middle of the park, Adam Wharton might take to the bench after he was forced to pull out of England’s camp. He is fully fit, but it isn’t worth risking him, and instead, Will Hughes can partner Daichi Kamada in midfield.
Ismaila Sarr can be expected to continue on the right wing, and he scored yet again in Fiorentina’s win. He should be joined up top by Strand Larsen and potentially Pino, who many were wowed by in the midweek Conference League clash.
Expected XI: Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Riad; Johnson, Kamada, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Strand Larsen
Prediction
All of the pressure is on Newcastle to get back to winning ways, but there are glaring issues with Howe’s team. They will be without talismanic skipper Bruno Guimaraes for their trip to Selhurst Park.
The Eagles will be full of confidence heading into the game, and Glasner will still want them to deliver a strong performance ahead of the away trip to Florence.
Strand Larsen might have a point to prove after Mateta’s goal, and he could find the net on Sunday. But honours even seems the likeliest outcome.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Newcastle
