Separated by just a point in the Premier League table, Crystal Palace and Southampton meet on Saturday afternoon at Selhurst Park.
After posting two wins and a draw from their previous three games, Palace were thumped 3-0 by Everton last time out, while Saints bravely held league leaders Arsenal to notch up a third game without defeat.
Match preview
© Reuters
After a sluggish start to the season, during which they won just one of their first seven matches, Crystal Palace had been enjoying a revival in October - coming from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1 on home soil before repeating the same scoreline against Wolves.
As a result, Patrick Vieira's men climbed into the top half of the table; however, they are yet to get off the mark with a win on their travels this term, following a chastening 3-0 reverse at Goodison Park last weekend.
Having failed to take points from the first of a relatively friendly fixture list leading up to the World Cup, the Eagles will aim to follow defeat to Everton with a better outcome from games against Southampton, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.
With their next three matches away from home - including an EFL Cup tie at Newcastle United - Palace are now intent on winning a third straight Premier League home game for the first time since May 2018.
As they have their last two in front of Selhurst Park's notoriously noisy supporters, despite conceding the first goal on both occasions, Vieira should expect another resilient display this week.
While Palace came out on top in their most recent contest with Southampton, back in April, the South London side have never won successive Premier League matches against Saturday's visitors. Doing so now would pull them four points clear of their counterparts and inch them back towards the top half.
© Reuters
Since a goalless draw with Fulham nearly two years ago, Southampton have conceded at least twice in each of their last nine trips to London; losing six times in the process and shipping a total of 24 goals.
Perhaps surprisingly, then, Saints have lost just three of their 13 Premier League visits to Crystal Palace in the past - though they are winless in their last two at Selhurst Park.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's side will hope to reverse that trend on Saturday, having enjoyed an upturn in results of late, with victory at Bournemouth coming between draws against West Ham and Arsenal. That provides some relief for a struggling outfit which previously endured four straight losses.
Still just three points above the relegation zone, in 16th place, Southampton surely face a long hard slog to retain their top-flight status, but there are signs that they have the stomach for such a fight.
They have gained eight points from losing positions in the Premier League this term, including one in last week's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, when Stuart Armstrong equalised midway through the second half after an earlier onslaught by the Gunners - that represents just a point fewer than the entirety of last season.
Some things do not change, though, as goals remain hard to come by for Hassenhuttl's men, who have scored only four times on the road so far.
Team News
© Reuters
After suffering a heavy defeat on Merseyside last week, Crystal Palace will most likely make changes upon their return to Selhurst Park, and Patrick Vieira can call upon midfielder Cheick Doucoure, who is back from suspension.
Vieira still has several squad members ruled out by injury, though, including Nathaniel Clyne (ankle) and Chris Richards (thigh). Both Jack Butland and James McArthur are yet to feature in the current campaign.
As ever, the subject of much speculation regarding his future, Wilfried Zaha will start in the hosts' front three; the Ivorian forward has scored in both of his last two Premier League games against Southampton.
Meanwhile, the visitors welcome Arsenal loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles back into the fold, after he sat out last week's draw with his parent club, but they also have a number of men missing.
Germany international Armel Bella-Kotchap has sat out the last two games after suffering a shoulder injury earlier this month, while Romeo Lavia is back in training following a hamstring problem but may not be risked yet. Kyle Walker-Peters (also hamstring) is a doubt, too, and fellow full-back Tino Livramento remains sidelined for the long term.
Though Saints have scored only four times away from home this season, five of the last six Premier League goals bagged by Che Adams have come on the road, with the Scottish striker scoring 75% of his team's away tally so far.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Schlupp, Doucoure, Eze; Olise, Edouard, Zaha
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Bazunu; Lyanco, Salisu, Caleta-Car; Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Maitland-Niles, S. Armstrong, Perraud; A. Armstrong, Adams
We say: Crystal Palace 2-1 Southampton
Given Palace's prowess at Selhurst Park and Southampton's struggles on the road, a home win seems the likeliest outcome on Saturday. A certain amount of frustration carried over from their loss last week should see the hosts start on the front foot, with unstinting support from the stands helping them over the line.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
