Watford v Palace

Vicarage Road, Saturday 3.00pm

Roy Hodgson

Team news

Manager Roy Hodgson is set to stick with makeshift strikers Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend that performed so well against Brighton, despite forwards Christian Benteke (groin) and Alexander Sorloth (hamstring) fit again.

Palace left back Jeffrey Schlupp has recovered from his ankle injury but only started training this week and is not quite ready for a first-team return.

Connor Wickham is still sidelined with his groin problem. Bakary Sako (ankle), Scott Dann and Jason Puncheon (both knee) are out.

Watford defender Sebastian Prodl and forward Gerard Deulofeu are among a few players struck by a virus in the squad. Jose Holebas (back) is available but Younes Kaboul (foot) and midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah (knee) won't feature.

Watford (from): Karnezis, Janmaat, Prodl, Mariappa, Kiko, Holebas, Doucoure, Hughes, Capoue, Pereyra, Deeney, Gomes, Britos, Cathcart, Richarlison, Gray, Carrillo, Okaka, Kabasele

Palace (from): Hennessey, Cavalieri, Speroni, Wan-Bissaka, Fosu-Mensah, Tomkins, Sakho, Kelly, Delaney, Jach, Riedewald, Van Aanholt, Souare, Schlupp, Townsend, Cabaye, Milivojevic, Loftus-Cheek, McArthur, Rakip, Lee, Zaha, Benteke, Sorloth.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"I don’t like to think in terms of, 'One more win!' At Fulham, we were so far divorced [six points behind fourth-bottom Birmingham after 33 games] and won four of the last five. If Fulham can do that, why can’t the other teams at the bottom?

"It’s very foolish to start speculating in that way. Basically, all we need is four more good performances like the last few we’ve given — even in the defeats to Manchester United and Liverpool.

“The Brighton game was a job well done. We have to make sure we put that game behind us because we need more points."

Javi Gracia

"I think [Zaha] is a good player in this season. Palace has changed shape and he has played wide on the left or as a striker.

"I think he is doing a very good season and we know he is a very good player but I am confident my players will do a good job.

"I prefer to prepare the games thinking about my team and after that focus on the other team and try to find a balance."

Watford - league stats

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
12/12/2017	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 1	Watford
18/03/2017	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 0	Watford
26/12/2016	League	Watford	1 - 1	Crystal Palace
24/04/2016	FA Cup	Crystal Palace	2 - 1	Watford
13/02/2016	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 2	Watford

All time results

Last meeting

Palace 2-1 Watford

Tuesday December 12 2017

Palace: Speroni, Fosu-Mensah (Sako, 70), Tomkins, Dann, Schlupp, Townsend (van Aanholt, 67), Cabaye (McArthur, 77), Milivojevic, Loftus-Cheek, Zaha, Benteke

Subs not used: Hennessey, Lee, Kelly, Riedewald

Goals: Sako (89), McArthur (90)

Bookings: van Aanholt, Milivojevic

Watford: Gomes, Mariappa, Prödl, Kabasele, Janmaat, Cleverley, Doucouré, Holebas, Carrillo (Pereyra, 71), Richarlison (Femenía, 84), Deeney (Gray, 80)

Subs not used: Success, Watson, Capoue, Karnezis

Goals: Janmaat (3)

Bookings: Cleverley, Pereyra

Sent off: Cleverley (87)

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