What will Crystal Palace's starting line-up be against Brentford?

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

The bottom two, AFC Bournemouth and Southampton, are in form that appears destined to end in relegation at the end of the season but the third spot seems a lot more open with Everton and Leeds both sacking their managers recently. Wolverhampton Wanderers have greatly improved, too, and Crystal Palace will begin to be worried.

The Eagles shared a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend and that means the Croydon club are winless in their last seven matches across all competitions.

They do have some major concerns in defence with Joachim Andersen and understudy Chris Richards both missing last week’s match and remaining doubtful for this weekend’s London derby clash away at Brentford. Joel Ward is also out injured.

That means that in front of Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal, Marc Guehi should partner James Tomkins, who scored their equalising goal last weekend, capitalising on a Robert Sanchez howler. Nathaniel Clyne and Tyrick Mitchell are expected to take up the full-back positions.

In midfield, Will Hughes is also a doubt for the match so could be replaced by one of Luka Milivojevic or James McArthur. Patrick Vieira is expected to name a more cautious side than he could away from home. Jeff Schlupp should partner Cheick Doucoure in midfield. Naouirou Ahamada and Albert Sambi Lokonga, who joined on January deadline day, could also feature in place of Hughes and/or Schlupp with Doucoure a regular in the Palace starting eleven.

The biggest loss and concern for Vieira and Palace will be the injury to Wilfried Zaha, which is set to keep him out of the team for this weekend’s match.

Palace do have some really impressive creative options, such as both Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, but it isn’t an ideal scenario to have them both on the flanks as Palace could become quite narrow with both players excellent at drifting into the pitch. Jordan Ayew could therefore start out wide with Jean-Philippe Mateta or Odsonne Edouard likely to start up-front.

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Guaita; Clyne, Tomkins, Guehi, Mitchell; Doucoure, Hughes, Schlupp; Olise, Mateta, Eze

UNAVAILABLE: Ward (Injured), Zaha (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Andersen (Injured), Ferguson (Fitness), Richards (Injured), Hughes (Injured)