Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Watford and Crystal Palace.

If reports are to be believed, Sam Allardyce was probably preparing for the possibility of being thrust back into work over the Christmas period weeks before Palace decided to part ways with Alan Pardew but to a certain extent, Allardyce may find it surreal to find himself back in Premier League action just months after leaving Sunderland for the England job. We don't need to go into the ins and outs of what happened but when replacing Roy Hodgson after Euro 2016, I'm sure that Allardyce didn't envisage being at Vicarage Road for a Boxing Day fixture against Watford.

That said, there will a big part of Allardyce who will just be grateful to be back in a job so soon after his one-match reign with the Three Lions. He was linked with a switch to Wolverhampton Wanderers in October but it appeared that he was prepared to wait until this period of the season to try to earn a return to the top flight and that's exactly what he has done with a Palace side who probably doesn't need that much tweaking, despite their 17th spot in the table. Pardew was sacked to step down after a emphatic win over Southampton, a draw at Hull City and narrow home defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea. We all know that football is a results business but the foundations are already in place for Allardyce to make his stay at Selhurst Park a successful one.

Anyway, enough rambling about Allardyce (for now, at least). Let's take a look at the two starting lineups which have been selected by Allardyce and his opposite number Walter Mazzarri.

WATFORD XI: Gomes; Kaboul, Prodl, Britos, Holebas; Capoue, Behrami, Guedioura; Amrabat, Ighalo, Janmaat

WATFORD SUBSTITUTES: Pantilimon, Deeney, Cathcart, Doucoure, Zuniga, Sinclair, Kabasele

CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly; Flamini, Cabaye; Townsend, Puncheon, Zaha; Benteke

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBSTITUTES: Speroni, Fryers, Mutch, Husin, Lee, Wan-Bissaka, Campbell

Let's start with Palace as Allardyce opts to hand recalls to both Mathieu Flamini and Andros Townsend. James McArthur and Joe Ledley are the players to drop out of the team. It's an extremely attack-minded side which has been named by Allardyce, with all four of Townsend, Jason Puncheon, Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke being given a starting role.

A few days ago, Mazzarri hinted that striker Troy Deeney was in need of a rest and the Italian has backed up his words by leaving the club captain on the bench. There's also no place for Isaac Success, who misses out as a precaution through injury. Odion Ighalo retains his place in the side despite failing to net in his last two starts, and his last 10 outings in total.

What do we make of that? Allardyce's selection definitely comes under the description of bold but really, who can blame him? Palace have struggled for clean sheets all season and with Watford in the middle of a slump in form, why shouldn't Allardyce attack from the off? He isn't free-rolling as such but this is a time for Allardyce to see what various players have to offer so I wouldn't expect this kind of team to be selected on a weekly basis.

We've already spoken of Ighalo's failure to score in his last 10 matches but the same can be said for Deeney, too, which means that it comes as little surprise that he starts this game on the bench. He obviously offers a lot more to the team than just goals but it's probably reached a stage where Mazzarri has to try other options. Deeney has also suffered from the weight of being just a goal away from reaching 100 goals for Watford. Deeney will tell you that he doesn't think about that when on the pitch but the chance of achieving the milestone must have played its part to a certain degree.

HEAD TO HEAD! This afternoon's match represents the 114th time that these two teams have met in a competitive fixture, with Palace winning 47 times in comparison to 41 victories for Watford. They have only met twice in the Premier League - both of which came last season - but they have plenty of history over the last few seasons...

It was just three-and-a-half years ago when the two clubs met in the Championship playoff final. After a goalless 90 minutes, the game went to extra time and it took a spot kick from veteran forward Kevin Phillips to earn Palace a place in the top flight, with this campaign being their fourth since their return to the division.

As well as the two Premier Leagues matches last season, there was also the small matter of an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium, which again went Palace's way. After Yannick Bolasie and Deeney had scored for their respective sides, it was left to Connor Wickham to net the decisive goal to take his team through to the final with Manchester United.

Here's an "interesting" fact for you. Where did Sam Allardyce's last Premier League game take place while he was at Sunderland? You guessed it - Vicarage Road! The game was effectively a dead-rubber with both clubs having already secured their place in the top flight for another 12 months but the two clubs did play out what turned out to be a fairly entertaining 2-2 draw.

As always on Boxing Day, there's going to be more than just the one match taking place and you can follow many of them with Sports Mole. Manchester United's home clash with Sunderland, Arsenal's fixture with West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea's attempt to make it 12 successive league wins in their game with Bournemouth will all follow this one, before Hull City's face Manchester City at the KCOM Stadium at 5.15pm, GMT.

PREDICTION! With Allardyce selecting the team which he has, we are predicting goals, and lots of them. However, we really have no idea which end they will be at! Given the result when the teams last met at this ground, we are going to back lightning to strike twice and the two clubs to play out a 2-2 draw, with Deeney maybe netting a late equaliser to reach 100 goals for Watford. It's a very precise prediction but you'll be praising us if we get it spot on.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out at Vicarage Road. Weather-wise, it feels fresher than it did up and down the country on Christmas Day but on a dry day and at 8C, we have to take that for this time in the year!.

Watford get us underway.

It takes Palace less than a minute to win a corner but Dann's header is never going to trouble Gomes after pressure from a defender.

This doesn't look good for Janmaat. He seems to have twisted his knee in a challenge with Zaha and he's been forced to go down after initially trying to continue. It looks like he is going to be stretchered off.

SUBSTITUTION! Yep, that's it for Janmaat. Zungia is coming on in his place. That's a considerable blow for the Hornets.

Zaha has started this game very brightly and a quick turn of pace draws the foul out of Guedioura on the edge of the penalty area. It's Cabaye who takes the set piece, but his shot is deflected behind for a corner.

Very brightly is probably an understatement. Zaha is terrorising Watford down the left flank and he does superbly to reach the byline before delivering a fine ball into the middle. However, none of his teammates are there and he is understandably furious.

If you are a Palace supporter, you have to be extremely encouraged by how Palace have started this game. We remain goalless but they are in total control. Still early days, however.

SHOT! More possession for Palace results in Townsend creating a chance for himself on the edge of the area. His shot is tame and always heading wide but more encouraging signs from the visitors.

SUBSTITUTION! Well this is an absolute disaster for Watford. Behrami has injured his hamstring and he is having to come off too! Deeney is the man to come on. Watford need the lift after barely doing anything during the opening stages of this contest.

CHANCE! Townsend looks a man reborn under Allardyce and he gets to the byline to stand up a cross for Benteke at the back post. The striker gets a head to the ball but he can't get a proper connection and Gomes is able to make the save.

Watford are slowly coming into this match but they aren't offering any kind of threat in the final third. Remember, both Deeney and Ighalo are looking to end 10-match runs without a goal.

You'd have assumed that the double substitution for Watford would only have further disrupted their performance but it's Palace who have struggled to adapt to the enforced changes. Watford are now bossing possession and look ready to mount an assault on the Palace goal.

Moments after drilling a long-range effort wide of the post, Cabaye gives Palace the lead. Most of the credit will go to Townsend, however, who turned past two players before playing a precise ball to Cabaye, who was being played onside by Kaboul. The Frenchman wasted no time in lashing the ball into the bottom corner from around 12 yards.

SHOT! Cabaye fancies this today and that goal has only given him more belief. After an exchange with Zaha, he decides to shoot from around 25 yards with his effort missing the bottom corner by a few yards.

We are yet to mention the role which Flamini is playing in this Palace team. He hasn't played much football for the Eagles this season but I'm predicting that he's going to have a major part to play in Allardyce's team. He's getting in plenty of tackles and interceptions.

MISS! Gomes gives Mark Clattenburg the easiest penalty decision of the season by cleaning out Benteke on the edge of the area but he redeems himself by saving the penalty taken by the Belgian! The forward stepped up in trademark fashion, with the little stutter, but Gomes guessed right and it was an easy save.

It's fair to say that Allardyce didn't look amused with Benteke but the Belgian has done nothing different to how he normally takes penalties. If Allardyce isn't a fan of that, he shouldn't be taking them. The reprieve has given Watford a lift, though, and they are ending this first half on top.

BOOKING! Benteke is the man into the referee's book after a foul on Holebas. It probably doesn't warrant a caution but it came just a couple of minutes after a stray elbow wasn't punished. There will be five minutes of added-on time.

BOOKING! Puncheon follows Benteke into the book for a foul on Zuniga. Again, it doesn't really warrant a yellow card. Zuniga appears to have dived.

The half-time whistle goes at Vicarage Road and Palace lead thanks to that Cabaye goal. It could have been much better for the Eagles, however, with Benteke seeing a penalty saved by Gomes. Watford have been poor but they remain just the one goal behind at the break.

The two teams are back out. It goes without saying that Watford need to improve in this half but Palace also need to repeat their efforts of the first half. If they do, you'd fancy them to get over the line.

We are back underway.

The use of substitutions may play its part here. Mazzarri is only permitted to make one more change, while Allardyce still has all three at his disposal. Given the work-rate of his side, I'm assuming he will make full use of them. All Watford at the start of this second half.

A fine turn from Guedioura earns a foul out of Dann and Watford have an opportunity to get the ball into the box. It's Guedioura who takes it but Hennessey does well to claim above everyone in the penalty area.

SHOT! Zaha doesn't usually need much encouragement to get a strike on goal but he decides against it, despite creating an opening for himself on the edge of the box. However, teammate Townsend doesn't need asking twice and he curls just over from the edge of the area.

BOOKING! Holebas goes into the book for a studs-up challenge on Puncheon. It isn't as bad as it sounds but it's a definite yellow.

SHOT! He's certainly capable from this distance but Guedioura is going to have to score the screamer of all screamers in order to beat former Wolves teammate Hennessey from over 30 yards out.

CHANCE! That could have been the moment for Ighalo to end his goalless streak. A long ball evaded both Deeney and Dann, leaving Ighalo to go one on one with Delaney. The striker was able to move the ball to the left of the Palace defender but his low effort went wide of the near post.

Watford win a corner after the ball flicks off the head of Delaney, unbeknownst to Kelly. The corner into the box caused problems for the Palace backline but after diverting the ball out for a second corner, Hennessey is able to claim.

The game is getting a bit scrappy now. I'm not sure if that suits Watford or Palace. The home side are having the better of this game at this moment, though, especially when balls are hit into the penalty area from set pieces. They know that Palace have shown frailties at the back this season.

SHOT! The ball falls invitingly for Zuniga on the edge of the penalty area but it's still a tad ambitious to be attempting a shot. His effort from 20 yards found the top of the stand behind the goal.

Watford equalise and Deeney has his 100th goal for the Hornets! It's a bold decision from Clattenburg who decides that Delaney has pulled down Britos in the penalty area before the ball has arrived by them but it's probably the right call. Deeney drilled the spot kick straight down the centre.

CHANCE! Dann has to do better here. A free kick was swung in from the left and the defender got above everyone to get his head to the ball. However, he sends his effort harmlessly over Gomes's crossbar.

Since that Dann opportunity, it has been all Watford and they certainly look the more likely to go on to win this match. It's an important 15 minutes for this Palace side. Allardyce will want to see what his players are made of.

SUBSTITUTION! Fraizer Campbell is on in place of Flamini, who has put in a shift for his team this afternoon.

CHANCE! The Ighalo of last season probably scores this. Guedioura's inswinging cross finds the striker around eight yards out but he can only divert the ball straight at Hennessey.

BOOKING! Controversial. Zaha is booked for diving when he thinks he should be awarded a penalty. I have to side with the referee here. The winger was looking to go down.

SAVE! Guedioura brings the ball down before volleying on goal from 20 yards but it's comfortably dealt with by Hennessey. There will be four minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at Vicarage Road and Watford and Palace have played out a competitive 1-1 draw. There will be a sense of frustration for Allardyce after witnessing his team lead and miss a penalty but Watford were well worth their draw after an improved performance in the second half.

That will be all from Sports Molefor this game but we hope that you can stick around for the matches which are taking place up and down the country over the next few hours. Goodbye for now.