Newcastle United and Crystal Palace will go head-to-head in the Premier League at St James' Park on Wednesday night, a crucial match for both teams as they aim to solidify their positions in the table. Newcastle, currently sitting in fourth place, will look to capitalize on a game in hand to leapfrog Nottingham Forest into third, while Crystal Palace seeks to close the gap on the European spots.
The match kicks off at 7:30 PM BST, with Newcastle coming off a resounding 4-1 victory against Manchester United. Despite the absence of manager Eddie Howe, who is currently battling pneumonia, the Magpies showcased their strength and depth in that match. Assistant manager Jason Tindall has been at the helm in Howe's absence and will be eager to continue the momentum.
Newcastle's squad has seen some changes, with midfielder Joe Willock returning after exiting concussion protocols, providing a much-needed boost to the team. However, they will still be without key players including Lewis Hall, Jamaal Lascelles, and Sven Botman due to injuries. Tindall expressed confidence in the squad, stating, "Everybody has come away from Sunday fine. It was good to get Anthony Gordon some minutes and good to have him back with the qualities he's got. The squad is in good shape." The confirmed lineup for Newcastle includes Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Joelinton, Guimaraes; Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace arrives in Newcastle looking to rebound from a disappointing 5-2 loss to Manchester City, where they squandered a 2-0 lead early in the match. Manager Oliver Glasner will be relieved to welcome back captain Marc Guehi and striker Eddie Nketiah, who were both suspended for the previous match. Additionally, Romain Esse and Matt Turner are expected to return after illness, while long-term absentees Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure remain sidelined.
Glasner commented on the squad's condition, saying, "The team’s looking very good. Everyone’s fit and available – just Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad are unavailable. Matt Turner is back, Romain Esse is back, and of course, Eddie [Nketiah] and Marc [Guehi] are back after their suspensions, so it’s good to have all the players available." The confirmed XI for Crystal Palace features Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze.
This match is particularly significant as Newcastle seeks to maintain their push for Champions League qualification, while Crystal Palace hopes to climb closer to the European spots, currently trailing Aston Villa by eight points. With both teams in need of points and boasting talented rosters, fans can expect an exciting clash at St James' Park.
For viewers wanting to catch the action, the match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Fans in the US can watch on USA Network, while those in Canada can tune in on Fubo. In Australia, Optus Sport will have the live coverage. As always, for those traveling or away from their usual streaming services, a VPN can help access the match from anywhere.
As the match approaches, the atmosphere is building, and both teams are gearing up for what promises to be an intense encounter. With Newcastle's recent form and Palace's determination to bounce back, this fixture is set to be a thrilling chapter in the Premier League season.
