Predicted Crystal Palace line-up to face Cardiff City in the Premier League
Crystal Palace will lock horns with Cardiff City at the Selhurst Park on Boxing Day after their heroics against champions Manchester City at the weekend.
The Eagles stunned Manchester City away from home 3-2 on Saturday, which will give them a massive boost ahead of Wednesday’s crunch fixture.
Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace will head into the next game as favourites against a struggling Cardiff City, who were given a 5-1 hiding by Manchester United at the weekend.
Team News
Wayne Hennessey could once again miss out with a back injury, while Cheikhou Kouyate and Martin Kelly remain out with muscle fatigue and groin problem respectively.
Meanwhile, Christian Benteke could be back in the early weeks of January.
Probable Crystal Palace XI
Formation: 4-4-2
Manager: Roy Hodgson
Vicente Guaita (GK)
Guaita could start just his third Premier League game of the season on Wednesday after joining Crystal Palace in the summer.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB)
Wan-Bissaka has nailed down a place in the team with a series of impressive displays. He is a certain starter against Cardiff City.
James Tomkins (CB)
Tomkins was a rock at the back against Manchester City last weekend despite Crystal Palace shipping two goals. He’ll look to put in a similar kind of performance in the midweek Premier League fixture.
Mamadou Sakho (CB)
Sakho has been Tomkins’ perfect partner at the heart of the Palace defence and it won’t change on Wednesday either.
Patrick Van Aanholt (LB)
Van Aanholt is an attacking left-back who always looks to get forward and contribute to the team’s attacks.
Luka Milivojevic (CM)
Milivojevic possesses a fantastic range of passing and is a set-piece specialist as well. His importance to this Palace side is immense.
Max Meyer (CM)
A classy operator of the ball, Meyer would add creativity to the Palace attack from the middle of the park.
James McArthur (RM)
McArthur may not be a technically gifted player but he makes it up with work ethic and tenacity in every game. His energy and intensity make him a real asset for the Eagles.
Jeffrey Schlupp (LM)
After a fantastic performance against City last weekend, Schlupp deserves to start Wednesday’s game.
Andros Townsend (RS)
Scored what might be the goal of the season, in the 3-2 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad. Up front, Townsend is a certain starter.
Read more: With pace and aerial ability, this young Liverpool outcast could be the man to save Crystal Palace’s season and Hodgson must get him
Wilfried Zaha (LS)
Palace’s most potent weapon in the attack, Zaha will look to terrorise the Cardiff defenders with his pace and dribbling skills.
