Brentford vs. Crystal Palace – preview and prediction – team news, and lineups
Brentford and Crystal Palace meet in a Premier League match at the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday, both teams will be looking to get back on track.
In midweek, the Bees lost 2-0 to Manchester City, while Patrick Vieira’s side drew 1-1 with a resurgent Norwich City.
Match preview
Trying to beat the reigning champions in the absence of a star striker is a difficult assignment in and of itself, but with Brentford’s Ivan Toney out with a late calf issue, Pep Guardiola’s men got the job done with professionalism on Wednesday.
Raheem Sterling drew yet another penalty for the Citizens, regaining the Premier League lead in that area, which Riyad Mahrez calmly converted before Kevin De Bruyne punished Brentford’s attempts to play out from the back.
With the Bees in 14th in the table but only six points above the relegation zone after having played a game more than 18th-placed Norwich, Thomas Frank and his crop may start looking over their shoulders.
The 2-1 setback at the Etihad made it six loses in a row in all competitions for Brentford, who have conceded at least two goals on each occasion during that dreadful run, and it is now five top-flight losses in a row for the newly-promoted side.
Brentford have proven to be tenacious in front of their own fans this season, with four of their six league victories coming at Griffin Park, and a favourable result would see them strengthen their league position at the expense of Palace.
Back from the Africa Cup of Nations with a bang, Wilfried Zaha stamped his authority on the Carrow Road turf with a magnificent long-range effort to restore parity against Norwich before a warm embrace with manager Patrick Vieira.
Teemu Pukki had given the hosts the lead after just 38 seconds in Wednesday’s game – the fastest goal of the 2021-22 Premier League so far – and Palace now face a crucial period of London derbies if their top-half ambitions are to remain alive after Zaha’s wayward penalty following his thunderbolt.
Vieira’s side must also lock horns with capital rivals Chelsea and Watford before the month ends, and having now failed to win any of their last four in the Premier League, the Eagles are now 13th in the standings – one place and two points above their upcoming opponents with a game in hand.
Brentford and Palace met for the first time in the Premier League in a dreary 0-0 stalemate at Selhurst Park in the second game week of the season, but the Bees had won the last three meetings with the Eagles on home soil, the most recent of which was back in 1977.
Team News
After recuperating from episodes of COVID-19, Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo were both fit to return off the bench at the Etihad, and Frank expects to welcome Toney back to the fold as well.
Vitaly Janelt, who missed the 2-0 setback in midweek owing to an abdominal problem, is uncertain for this match, while Tarique Fosu, Julian Jeanvier, and Mathias Jorgensen continue to recover from their injuries.
Given his rejuvenated attacking options, Frank may contemplate demoting Saman Ghoddos and Mads Roerslev to the bench, as January addition Christian Eriksen continues to gain match fitness.
Meanwhile, after welcoming James McArthur back to the bench at Carrow Road, Palace are pretty well-stocked for this match, but Nathan Ferguson has suffered another injury setback.
Cheikhou Kouyate, the Senegal AFCON winner, has been enjoying the post-trophy celebrations and is likewise doubtful for this one, with any probable minutes coming from the bench.
Vieira may elect to bring in Odsonne Edouard and Eberechi Eze to freshen up his forward line, with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s spot in jeopardy despite his recent run of form.
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock; Canos, Norgaard, Onyeka, Jensen, Henry; Mbeumo, Wissa
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Schlupp, Hughes, Gallagher; Eze, Edouard, Zaha
Our Prediction: Under 3.5 Goals
Brentford were far from humiliated by Manchester City in midweek, and the thought of seeing Toney, Wissa, and/or Mbeumo return to the starting lineup bodes well for the struggling Bees.
The last thing Palace needs is another draw, especially away from home, and their abundance of alternatives in the final third could cause all sorts of issues for the hosts, but we have faith in Frank’s side to stop their winless run in an exciting stalemate.
