Crystal Palace v Bournemouth preview: Wayne Hennessey returns
Saturday 9 December 2017 14:33, UK
Crystal Palace have goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey available again when they host Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Wales international missed Palace's last match with a back problem, but faces a battle to reclaim his spot as Julian Speroni impressed in the goalless draw at West Brom.
The stalemate at The Hawthorns was Palace's fourth draw in their last six matches, and they have also beaten Stoke to move off the bottom of the Premier League table.
A win this weekend could see them go level on points with 17th-placed West Brom, and Eagles manager Roy Hodgson has his sights set on climbing further up the table.
"We are looking to get to the middle of the table," he said. "We are a long way from that, but our task is to make certain in every game we play we're capable of taking something from the game. Ideally three points."
Bournemouth have lost just one of their last five matches and are five points ahead of Palace.
Team news
Hennessey is fit to return for Palace and Yohan Cabaye (knee), Scott Dann and James McArthur (both illness) are also available, but Joel Ward (groin) is a doubt.
Steve Cook could return in place of the suspended Adam Smith for Bournemouth, who have no fresh injury concerns.
Goalkeeper Adam Federici (knee) is back in light training for the Cherries, while the defensive duo of Brad Smith (hip) and Tyrone Mings (back) continue their rehabilitation.
Opta stats
Crystal Palace are yet to beat Bournemouth at Selhurst Park in the Premier League (D1 L1), with their last home league win against them coming in April 1988.
The Cherries have netted just two goals on their last eight Premier League visits to London (D1 L7) and failed to score in their last four capital clashes (L4).
Roy Hodgson's side have attempted the highest proportion of shots from set-piece situations this season in the Premier League (39 per cent - 71/183).
Since Bournemouth's first Premier League season in 2015/16, a league-high 61 per cent of their players to score in the competition have been English (11/18 excl. own-goals).
Crystal Palace have scored in each of their last four league games at Selhurst Park (two in each); they've only ever scored in five consecutive home Premier League games twice before (Sept 1992 and Dec 1992).
Merson's prediction
Palace should be almost down and out of sight now, but they are lucky everyone around them has also not been as good as they could have been. They are right in it now, and a win here will really help them out.
Bournemouth won't be able to cope with Wilfried Zaha. They can attack at will, but sometimes when quality players get at them, they really can struggle. It will be a really good game, as both teams will have a go.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Crystal Palace are Sky Bet's even-money favourites for the victory with Bournemouth priced at 11/4 while the draw is a 12/5 chance. Christian Benteke heads the first goalscorer betting while Wilfried Zaha and Callum Wilson are both enhanced in Sky Bet's Price Boosts to 6/1 and 7/1 respectively to break the deadlock.
