Sunderland vs Crystal Palace Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Sunderland are one of the surprise packages in the Premier League this season as the Black Cats now take on a Crystal Palace side that are under pressure on Wearside.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – Peacock
Sunderland preview: Surprise package Sunderland
After a heavy summer of spending, Sunderland begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top-half of the table with just five defeats thus far, despite losing so many players to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations of late.
The Black Cats managed to edge past Everton on penalties in the third round of the FA Cup at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last weekend. Robin Roefs saved all three of the Toffees’ penalties to eventually give Sunderland what was a deserved victory.
Crystal Palace preview: Crisis at Palace
Crystal Palace come into this one on the back of arguably the biggest upset in the history of the FA Cup as the holders of the competition succumbed to a 2-1 loss to Macclesfield, of the National League North, last weekend.
The Eagles had started this season extremely well but Oliver Glasner is now becoming increasingly frustrated with that loss to Macc extending their current winless run of form to nine matches across all competitions.
Sunderland team news: Some return, some don't
After a tough few weeks, Sunderland are able to welcome back a couple of players from the CAF Africa Cup of Nations as Noah Sadiki and Reinildo become back involved for the Black Cats.
However, two other players who should have returned, Arthur Masuaku and Bertrand Traore, are now out injured, while Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi remain at the tournament.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete; Hume, Sadiki, Xhaka, Reinildo; Le Fee, Brobbey, Adingra
Unavailable: Alese (Injured), Masuaku (Injured), Diarra (International duty), Talbi (International duty), Traore (Injured)
Questionable:
Crystal Palace team news: Guehi close to City move
Club captain Marc Guehi will not be involved this weekend with Oliver Glasner, who is now expected to depart at the end of the season, confirming the centre-back is close to moving to Manchester City.
Jefferson Lerma has returned from a concussion but Palace are dealing with an abundance of injury issues, as well as Imsaila Sarr still being at AFCON with Senegal.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Lerma; Devenny, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Johnson, Pino; Mateta
Unavailable: Kporha (Injured), Guehi (Other), Riad (Injured), Cardines (Injured), Clyne (Injured), Munoz (Injured), Doucoure (Injured), Kamada (Injured), Sarr (International duty), Nketiah (Injured)
Questionable:
Sunderland vs Crystal Palace prediction
Sunderland are getting their players back slowly from AFCON and so they will begin to be able to be a little more proactive once again. They have ensured they have remained difficult to beat with their absentees. Crystal Palace head to the Stadium of Light lacking fluency and they often struggle, as was the case last week, to break teams down that sit back. This is unlikely to be a high-scoring encounter, as was the case in the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park which finished goalless.
Sunderland vs Crystal Palace tip: Under 2.5 goals
