Team news, key stats and ways to follow ahead of Crystal Palace vs Sheffield United.
Team news
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson will welcome back a number of key players for the visit of Sheffield United. Patrick van Aanholt, Andros Townsend, Joel Ward and Christian Benteke are all available after injury, while Luka Milivojevic will return from suspension.
However, Cenk Tosun will not be fit after picking up a hamstring injury, with Mamadou Sakho and Jeffrey Schlupp long-term injury absentees.
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A look ahead to a busy weekend of Premier League action, where Manchester City take on Tottenham and Manchester United host Wolves
Sheffield United will assess David McGoldrick (foot) ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park but boss Chris Wilder has no fresh injury concerns.
Mo Besic will hope to keep his place in midfield over John Lundstram after scoring against Millwall in the FA Cup last time out but Sander Berge has arrived for a club-record fee and could feature.
How to follow
Follow the match in our dedicated live blog, while highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel at 5.15pm.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City's win over Sheffield United in the Premier League
Opta stats
- Crystal Palace have won their last two home league games against Sheffield United, though this is their first such meeting since February 2011 in the Championship.
- In the top-flight, Sheffield United have lost their last three away league visits against Crystal Palace, though these matches were between the 1990-91 and 1992-93 campaigns.
- Crystal Palace have kept a clean sheet in their last four Premier League home games against promoted sides (W3 D1), winning each of the last three in a row.
- Sheffield United are winless in their last 19 Premier League games in London (D8 L11) since beating Chelsea 2-1 in October 1992. However, the Blades have drawn all four of their topflight games in the capital this season, coming from behind in each one.
- Crystal Palace have neither scored nor conceded more than twice in any of their 12 Premier League home games this season (F10 A12). Indeed, since the start of last season the Eagles have only scored more than twice in one of their 32 home league games (5-3 vs Bournemouth in May 2019).
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Southampton's win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League
- Sheffield United have neither scored nor conceded more than twice in any of their 12 Premier League away games this season (F12 A12). Indeed, the Blades haven't scored more than twice in any of their last 47 top-flight away games, since a 3-3 draw with Southampton in October 1993.
- Crystal Palace have scored a league-low five Premier League goals before half-time this season, with just one of these coming at Selhurst Park.
- Only runaway league leaders Liverpool have conceded fewer Premier League goals than Sheffield United this season (23). Indeed, Sheffield United's record of 23 goals conceded after 24 games is the best by a promoted side since Fulham in 2001-02 (also 23).
- Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has three goals and two assists in 2095 minutes of Premier League football this season, averaging a goal involvement every 419 minutes. Last season, he was averaging a goal or assist every 203 minutes in the competition.
- No keeper has kept more clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Sheffield United's Dean Henderson (8). Indeed, only Alisson (214) has a better minutes-per-goal conceded ratio this term than Henderson (one every 104 minutes).
Charlie's prediction
This is a very interesting game again. Will Sheffield United edge it 1-0 given they have been strong away from home all season? Or could Wilfried Zaha nick a penalty and a win for Crystal Palace? Palace could go level on points with Sheffield United if they win. Both sides deserve applause for how they have performed this term. It is a sensational season right across the Premier League table, with the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal all rebuilding. It's a tough game to call but I'm going for a rare Sheffield United slip-up.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: Crystal Palace 1-0 Sheffield United (6/1 with Sky Bet)
Super 6: Too close to call?
Only 12 per cent separates the three outcomes in this one. A steady 26 per cent of Super 6 competitors have backed the hosts, while 36 per cent are expecting Sheffield United to come away with all three points, with 38 hoping for the draw. Play Super 6 for free.
