Crystal Palace vs Newcastle Predictions

• Crystal Palace have won only one of their last 10 meetings with Newcastle
• Newcastle have picked up four wins from their last six away games
• The Magpies were 2-0 winners when the teams last met at St James’ Park in January

Palace boosted or distracted by European efforts?

Crystal Palace will be on a high following Thursday’s 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final tie, but with the return match to come in Florence next midweek, this Premier League showdown with Newcastle may be little more than a distraction.

Palace are all but safe in the top flight but are unlikely to challenge for European qualification, meaning their priority will surely be progressing in the Conference League.

While head coach Oliver Glasner does not often rotate his starting XI too extensively, he may make changes on Sunday, and even if he opts to stick with a similar team to the one that lined up against Fiorentina, those players may be a little jaded.

Newcastle’s need for points greater

Newcastle have no such European distractions after being dumped out of the Champions League by Barcelona and they will come into this game fresh having not played since losing the Tyne–Wear derby to Sunderland three weeks ago,

The Magpies will be desperate to right the wrongs of that derby loss, and they know they need to start picking up points if they are to keep their faint hopes of returning to the Champions League next season alive.

The good news for Eddie Howe’s team is they have a good recent record when facing Palace, as they have lost only one of the last 10 head-to-heads, winning the previous two meetings by an aggregate score of 7-0.

With Palace having only won three of 15 Premier League home games this season, Newcastle will be further encouraged, especially as their own away record has improved of late, picking up four wins from their last six road trips across all competitions.

Thiaw has thwarted Palace before

When these two teams met in January’s reverse fixture at St James’ Park, Newcastle claimed a 2-0 win with defender Malick Thiaw scoring the second of those goals.

History could now repeat itself on Sunday, with Thiaw having proven he can be a regular goal threat since joining Newcastle from AC Milan last summer.

The German international has struck five goals across all competitions, including four in the Premier League, with his effort against Palace going alongside a brace on the road at Everton and another away strike against Tottenham.

Thiaw is a real threat from set pieces and could prove to be Newcastle’s hero at Selhurst Park in a game they really need to win.