Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Premier League fixture between Crystal Palace and Burnley!

Today's match at Selhurst Park sees a previously struggling side now in form facing a team that had been flying high but has seen their form slip in recent weeks.

The Eagles have lost just once since early November and sit 14th in the table, although they are in the middle of an injury crisis. The Clarets, meanwhile, were sitting in fourth place on December 12 but are winless in five games since to fall 10 points off the pace.

Team news have filtered through from Selhurst Park so let's have a look at who's going to be lining up from the start today and who could replace them from the bench.

PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey, Fosu-Mensah, Kelly, Tomkins, van Aanholt, McArthur, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Zaha, Sako, Benteke

BURNLEY STARTING XI: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Cork, Defour, Hendrick, Vokes, Barnes

PALACE SUBS: Speroni, Cabaye, Chung-yong, Souare, Kaikai, Delaney, Wan-Bissaka

BURNLEY SUBS: Lindegaard, Lowton, N'Koudou, Westwood, Walters, Wells, Long

Roy Hodgson has made four changes from the Eagles side that lost 2-1 to M23 rivals Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup on Monday evening.

Wilfried Zaha, Christian Benteke, Luka Milivojevic and James Tomkins come into the XI, with Damien Delaney and Yohan Cabaye dropping to the bench, while Jeffrey Schlupp and Andros Townsend miss out through injury.

Schlupp and Townsend are the latest players facing spells on the sidelines, joining the likes of Scott Dann, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mamadou Sakho, Joel Ward, Jason Puncheon and Connor Wickham.

Milivojevic captains Palace today, who line up in a 4-4-2 formation, while the threadbare squad is evident on the bench, with academy products Sullay Kaikai and Aaron Wan-Bissaka potentially needing to be called into action.

As for Burnley, Sean Dyche makes makes three changes from their 4-1 defeat by Manchester City in the FA Cup third round last weekend.

James Tarkowski has passed a fitness test, while Steven Defour and Phil Bardsley return to the Clarets' starting XI, with Matthew Lowton, Kevin Long and Ashley Westwood on the bench.

Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, who has joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, also starts on the bench, but top scorer Chris Wood, left-back Stephen Ward and midfielder Scott Arfield are continued absentees.

So there we have it, both matchday squads named and currently warming up as they prepare to face off in what is likely to be a very tight, evenly matched game in South London.

With both Palace and Burnley now out of the FA Cup, their sole focus now is their league form. The hosts will want to continue their progress and cement a mid-table position, while the Clarets will be desperate to return to form and move to within a point of sixth-placed Arsenal.

What have Roy Hodgson and Sean Dyche had to say about the fixture over the last few days? Let's have a look now, beginning with the Palace boss.

Hodgson was full of praise for his counterpart, telling reporters: "(Dyche) is doing an excellent job. He deserves the credit. He has built up a very good team and over the last couple of years he has got them playing well and picking up points in the Premier League. I don't think there are secrets (behind his success). He has a team that is well organised and understand what is required of them, and are well suited to the roles they are asked to play. If that is the secret, it is one I discovered many years ago."

Dyche, meanwhile, has mulled over Burnley's previous superb run and attempted to put it into perspective - at his pre-match presser, he said: "We've played some pretty big teams, and we've been unfortunate, I feel, not to have more rewards. We could easily have come out of that run with two, three or five more points. I don't want to be too greedy over the season but I have been delighted with the group and how they have adapted to the challenge of losing some players and now we want to keep moving forwards."

Now, let's take a closer look at how Palace and Burnley have been doing in the lead-up to today's game. The Eagles, as we all know, endured a woeful losing - and goalless - run, falling to defeat in nine of their opening 11 Premier League games this season, but have since lost just one of the following 11 in the competition, an amazing turnaround.

Indeed, a side that was racking up bad stat after bad stat now has a much better one at their disposal, which goes to show the change in mentality and never-say-die attitude that has taken place at Selhurst - only Arsenal and Everton (12 each) have gained more points from losing positions in the Premier League this season than Palace (11).

Burnley, meanwhile, are winless in their last six fixtures in all competitions, including five in the Premier League, and are in danger of losing their first three competitive matches of a calendar year for the first time since 1987.

Shipping goals has also been a problem in recent weeks for the previously stout Clarets - they have conceded 11 goals in their last five matches in all competitions, having previously conceded just 14 goals in 20 games in 2017-18.

Looking at both sides' home and away form with regards to this fixture, Palace lost their opening three home league matches but have since won three and lost only one of the subsequent eight, while Burnley are winless in four league away games, drawing each of their last three.

Hodgson has acknowledged that Palace are struggling in terms of player availability but has nonetheless struck a defiant note ahead of kickoff.

Pre-match comments from Roy Hodgson #CRYBUR pic.twitter.com/3ALPGT75VK — Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) 13 January 2018

Finally, let's have a look at the direct head-to-head record between these two sides, with Burnley able to boast a league double over Palace for the second successive season should they win today.

The Eagles have lost seven of nine top-flight games against Burnley, with their sole win during that period coming away in January 2015.

Palace's most recent home win against the Clarets was by 4-3 in the Championship in October 2012, with Wilfried Zaha scoring twice.

Dyche has addressed reports linking Scott Arfield with a move away from Turf Moor, telling reporters: "We've had talks with him. He's sat tight on an offer so we'll keep open minds, as will he I hope, to what comes next. I have been [keen for him to stay] for a long time. Scott knows where it all stands, he knows the club's situation and he's been a very good player for us and continues to be. He's got a little injury at the minute but we hope that clears up quickly. We stay in contact with all of the players and their agents; we try and have as open lines of communication as we can with all parties. Every player has a right to decide what their thoughts are on their contractual situation, that's football. Both parties have to agree, that's what it comes down to."

SCORE PREDICTION: With just five minutes until kickoff, it's time for me to have a go at guessing the final score here. This weekend has plenty of top-flight games which are notoriously difficult to call and this one is no exception, it really could go either way, but I fancy Burnley to bounce back and claim all three points against a depleted Palace side. I'll go for 2-1 to the Clarets.

There are six 3pm kickoffs in the Premier League today - alongside this game, we also have Chelsea taking on Leicester City, Huddersfield Town at home to West Ham United, Newcastle United hosting Swansea City, Watford against Southampton, and West Bromwich Albion at home against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Both sets of players are making their way out to the pitch at Selhurst Park, Palace are in their standard home kit of red and blue stripes, while Burnley are in their white and claret away kit with blue trim.

KICKOFF! And here we go as Palace get us underway!

The first side to launch into an attack is Palace as Zaha and then Sako try to make headway into the opposition box, but Mee is alert to keep the latter from advancing too far into danger.

Now Burnley try to advance as Gudmundsson makes ground on the right and pulls the ball back for Bardsley, but the delivery hasn't got enough power behind it and the Palace keeper claims with ease.

Hennessey is called into action again in the Palace goal as he races out to prevent Vokes from getting on the end of Barnes's short pass.

Defour's sloppy passing allows Palace to pounce and launch a counter-attack through Zaha, who cuts the ball back for Sako, but Tarkowski gets across to make a fine block.

Palace win a corner and Van Aanholt's delivery falls to Milivojevic outside the area, the captain connects beautifully on the volley but he can't get the ball through the crowd of bodies.

PENALTY SHOUT! Michael Oliver has a big call to make as Tarkowski lunges in on an advancing Sako in the box but the ref says no penalty!

Looking at the replays, it looks like Oliver has made the right call as Tarkowski won the ball in that challenge.

We're quarter of an hour into the game and although Burnley have enjoyed the lion's share of possession, they are struggling to muster any openings, while Palace are looking threatening on the counter.

Now Benteke goes to ground on the edge of the Burnley area as Bardsley makes a challenge, but again, ref Oliver does not flinch.

Burnley enjoy a rare foray forward as Gudmundsson finds space down the right and crosses into the six-yard box, but Hennessey is able to collect.

We have the opener at Selhurst Park and it goes the way of the hosts, nothing less than they deserve as they've been the more threatening of the two sides! Sako picks the ball up on the left, cuts inside and finds space before rifling an effort through the legs of Tarkowski and into the top corner of the net with the help of a deflection off Pope!

CHANCE! So close to a second as Zaha beats Pope to a loose ball and lofts a first-time cross over the goalkeeper but, with McCarthur poised to apply the finishing touch from point-blank range, Mee wades in and clears from underneath his own crossbar!

CHANCE! Palace threaten once again and only some last-ditch defending from Tarkowski prevents Sako from getting on the end of Zaha's cross.

CHANCE! From the corner, Milivojevic swings the ball in and Benteke connects with a powerful header, but the effort sails over the bar! The Belgian striker was given so much time and space there, Burnley struggling to hang on.

We're at the half-hour mark and there's a brief break in play as Milivojevic gets hit by a stray arm from Barnes and goes to the byline for treatment.

Burnley win a free kick in a dangerous position which Gudmundsson delivers but it's overhit and Hennessey collects it with ease.

Tarkowski is struggling against the Palace front line today and he very nearly puts the hosts in a great position to grab another goal with a skewed clearance from Sako's cross which almost falls to Zaha, but the former Man United man puts the ball out of play with his first touch.

CHANCE! Closest Burnley have come to finding the target there as Gudmundsson whips the ball into the area from the left flank and the unmarked Vokes nudges a header just wide of the post!

CHANCE! And here come the visitors again, much better from them! Tarkowski's headed flick-on is met by Barnes, who hits a volley goalwards, but Hennessey manages to fingertip the ball over the bar!

BOOKING: We have the first caution of the game and it's for Defour, who kicks out at Zaha after the Palace man is brought down by Barnes.

CHANCES! Moments after Van Aanholt tries his luck from the edge of the area and Benteke prods the ball at Pope, Sako fires a ferocious volley across goal but it goes behind!

We are into just one minute of added time here at Selhurst...

A lively end to the first half there which finishes with Palace a goal to the good against a Burnley side that only began showing glimpses of what we know they can do late on in the opening 45, but have largely been lacklustre against a very impressive Eagles side which continues to improve under Roy Hodgson!

The hosts took the lead on 21 minutes through Bakary Sako, himself on top form since being converted into a forward by Hodgson - he drifted in from the left hand side, weaved past Phil Bardsley and found the back of the net with an effort which went through the legs of James Tarkowski and beyond the grasp of Nick Pope.

Sako has scored six goals in all competitions this season, not bad considering he's only just making his second league start of the campaign.

In all honesty, Palace could easily have been more than just one goal ahead, Burnley struggling to cope with the opposition's pace and power going forward.

Even though Palace have had just 43% possession, they've weighed in with 10 shots, two of them on target. Burnley, in comparison, have had 57% possession but just three shots in total and one on target.

Not long to go until we're back underway and it's good work so far for Palace, while Burnley have a lot of work to do. But with just one goal separating the two sides, it's still all up for grabs.

KICKOFF: Burnley get the second half underway, with no changes for either side at the break.

Burnley quick out of the starting blocks as Barnes tries to make headway down the left, but Zaha intervenes and regains possession for the hosts.

Little to write home about so far in the second half, neither side looking particularly comfortable on the ball after the restart.

CHANCE! The Clarets come within a whisker of drawing level as Gudmundsson sends a cross deep into the Palace box but Barnes's header bounces just wide of the far post!

CHANCE! But here come Palace at the other end as Zaha and Fosu-Mensah combine to whip in a delivery into the box for Sako, who connects with his head but can't generate enough power and Pope is able to claim with ease.

CHANCE! Safe to say both sides are a lot more comfortable on the ball and it's some great end-to-end play as Burnley counter and Bardsley whips the ball towards the near post, where Vokes connects with a header but only finds the side netting!

Palace win a free kick not far from the left-hand corner flag after Bardsley hauls down McArthur, the delivery causes havoc in the box but Mee eventually hacks the ball away into touch for a throw-in.

Looks like Georges-Kevin N'Koudou is about to come on for his Clarets debut after joining on loan from Spurs in the week.

Milivojevic brings down Taylor for a free kick which is cleared, while up the pitch, Zaha shows some neat footwork to make progress in the opposition half, only to sloppily give the ball away.

SUBSTITUTION: Jeff Hendrick comes off in place of Georges-Kevin N'Koudou for his first outing in a Burnley shirt.

N'Koudou makes an early impact after coming on by picking up Cork's pass, charging down the left and whipping a cross into the box, but neither Gudmundsson or Barnes can take advantage.

A sloppy pass from N'Kudou sets Palace off on the counter and Sako stands a cross up for Benteke, but the Belgian cannot find the back of the net.

Hennessey misjudges his foray off the line to try to claim Cork's cross, which falls to a Burnley player, but the referee pulls play back for a foul on the Palace keeper.

Burnley win a free kick near the halfway line which Defour launches into the box, but it's far too powerful and it goes behind for a goal kick. Heading into the last 15 minutes of the game and Palace are still narrowly ahead.

We have a lull in play following that frantic period, with Palace regaining a foothold in the game after a brief period of Burnley possession.

Vokes continues to struggle this afternoon, his latest attempt a shot-cum-cross from the right flank which sails harmlessly out of play.

Good work from Van Aanholt, who stops Gudmundsson from connecting with a cross to the back post before eventually forcing the ball out of play.

McArthur combines with Zaha before making his way down the left side of the penalty area, but a moment of hesitation allows the defence to regroup and Tarkowski charges down the ensuing effort.

BOOKING: Bardsley is shown a yellow card for hauling down Sako in the build-up to McArthur's chance.

CHANCE! A long Burnley ball over the top completely bamboozles the Palace defence and is pounced upon by Barnes, but Hennessey rushes out to claim the ball.

BOOKING: Taylor goes into the book for his push on Zaha down on the touchline. During the stoppage, Gudmunds­son is taken off and replaced by Wells.

CHANCE! Palace come so close to killing the game off as Benteke gets the better of Mee before marauding towards goal but, under pressure from Tarkowski, the Belgian is forced further out wide and rifles the ball into the side netting!

We have four minutes of stoppage time here at Selhurst Park.

That's the full-time whistle and Palace's renaissance continues with a 1-0 win against a Burnley side whose impressive early-season form is surely now a distant memory, thanks to Bakary Sako's 21st-minute goal which turned out to be the winner!

Palace edge up to 12th in the table, five points above the bottom three - remarkable considering just how poor they were early in the season, while Burnley remain seventh but Arsenal, five points ahead, have a game in hand.

That's all we've got time for but don't go anywhere because Sports Mole will be bringing you match reports, reaction and all the latest news from the day's football! Thank you for following and, until next time, goodbye!