- Crystal Palace face West Ham
- Oliver Glasner set to make changes to his team
- Eagles still in with a chance of European qualification
Crystal Palace meet West Ham United in the Premier League tonight (April 20th) and they are looking to make it four league games without defeat. The Eagles might have a bit of a hangover, though, given their midweek celebrations.
A 2-1 loss to Fiorentina didn’t prevent Palace from advancing to the semi-final of the UEFA Conference League. Oliver Glasner’s men beat the Italians 4-2 on aggregate thanks to an emphatic 3-0 win at home in the first leg.
The team were out enjoying their huge feat on the streets of Florence on Thursday night. But Glasner will be urging them to switch their focus on the West Ham game at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace vs West Ham United – How to Watch
Tonight’s game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, and coverage begins at 18:30 BST on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Kick off starts at 20:00 BST.
Those wanting to watch the game outside the UK can do so by tuning in to channels appropriate to their location.
| Region | Broadcaster |
| USA | USA Network |
| UK | Sky Sports |
| Australia | Stan Sport |
| Canada | Fubo Canada |
| India | JioStar |
| South / Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport |
| Malaysia | Astro |
| Middle East | beIN Sports MENA |
Crystal Palace Team News
Glasner didn’t leave Florence without issues as two of his key men picked up injuries against Fiorentina. Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix were forced off in the first half on Thursday night.
Wharton’s looked the more serious, and the English midfielder is in doubt to face West Ham. He sustained an adductor injury, the same issue that forced him to withdraw from the England camp midway through the international break.
Lacroix picked up a knee issue but initially tried to play on before calling to the bench and making way for Chadi Riad. But reports claim he is set to be involved against the Hammers and he’s been given the all clear from the medical staff.
That means Wharton is likely to miss the game, along with Eddie Nketiah, who is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. Cheick Doucoure is still getting back to match fitness after a lengthy layoff with an ACL injury.
Glasner will be without Evann Guessand, who missed the 2-1 win over Newcastle United last Sunday and the midweek clash with Fiorentina. He is probably midway through his recovery from a knee injury.
Expected XI
With Palace not playing midweek, it won’t be a case of Glasner needing to rotate as he did for the Newcastle win. So, minimal changes to the team that faced Fiorentina can be expected.
Dean Henderson will likely continue in goal, with Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards and Riad in central defence. While Lacroix might be fit to play, there’s no need to immediately throw him into the starting lineup.
Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell should continue at wing-back where they have been superb this season. But in midfield is where changes are likely as Wharton looks set to be unavailable.
Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes could be handed starts, allowing Glasner to rest Daichi Kamada. Ismaila Sarr has shown no signs of fatigue and might get the nod on the right wing.
Up top, an intriguing decision for Glasner to make is that Jean-Philippe Mateta has been back amongst the goals as of late. He started against Fiorentina but came off at half-time, and Jorgen Strand Larsen might just continue as the starting number nine in the Premier League.
Yeremy Pino will likely take Guessand’s place on the left again after doing so midweek. The Spanish attacker has caught the eye in recent weeks.
Crystal Palace Likely XI: Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Riad; Munoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Strand Larsen, Pino
Prediction
Palace come into tonight’s game still in with a chance of making Europe through their Premier League finish. They sit 13th, six points behind seventh-placed Brentford who would currently be granted a place in the Conference League next season.
Glasner won’t just want to end his reign by guiding the South Londoners to a European trophy. He’ll be eager to finish up with his side taking as high a spot in the division as possible.
That said, West Ham have been enjoying an upturn in form as of late that has helped them escape the bottom three. They are 17th, just one point above 18th-placed Tottenham Hotspur with six games remaining to save themselves from the drop.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men thrashed Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 last time out. But away at Selhurst Park they won’t be picking up a victory.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham
