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Newcastle United vs Crystal Palace: Premier League Preview
Newcastle United will look to maintain their impressive charge for a Champions League place when they welcome Crystal Palace to St James’ Park on Wednesday evening.
by Berba
Setting the Scene
The Magpies are flying high after a commanding 4-1 victory over Manchester United, a result that cemented their place in the top four with 56 points. Assistant manager Jason Tindall will once again oversee proceedings from the touchline, as Eddie Howe remains absent due to illness. Newcastle’s momentum shows no sign of slowing, with the team currently enjoying a five-match winning streak in the Premier League.
In contrast, Crystal Palace’s recent outing ended in disappointment as they were beaten 5-2 by Manchester City, despite taking an early two-goal lead. The Eagles remain 12th in the standings on 43 points, still well clear of any relegation threat but now needing a response after a defensive collapse at the Etihad.
Recent Form
Newcastle’s win over Manchester United showcased their aggressive pressing and attacking fluency, with six big chances created and 13 high turnovers forced. Despite conceding, it was just the third goal they’ve allowed across their last five league games, during which they’ve scored 11 times.
At St James’ Park, the hosts have been formidable, winning six of their last eight Premier League matches, and four of their last five.
Palace had gone on a run of six wins and a draw in seven games before falling to City, a match where they conceded 12 big chances—a concerning figure for manager Oliver Glasner, especially given how defensively solid they had been in the 10 games prior, conceding more than once only once and keeping five clean sheets.
Head-to-Head
These sides played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park back in November. Over their last eight top-flight meetings, honours are even—two wins apiece and four draws—suggesting another tightly contested encounter could be on the cards.
Newcastle do, however, have the upper hand at home, while Palace’s form on the road has been notably strong. Before a recent dip, they had won six straight away games, scoring 13 goals and not conceding once during that spell. However, they are now winless in two on their travels.
Team News
Newcastle United:
- Manager Eddie Howe remains sidelined with pneumonia; Jason Tindall continues to deputise.
- No fresh injury concerns reported following the Manchester United win.
Crystal Palace:
- No significant updates on injuries; Oliver Glasner is expected to name a similar lineup to the one that started at the Etihad.
With both sides entering the contest from contrasting results but boasting strong recent records overall, Wednesday's clash at St James' Park could prove crucial in shaping the final stretch of the Premier League season—for both European qualification and a strong top-half finish.