Stoke City v Crystal Palace preview: Sam Allardyce eyes new faces to get back winning feeling
Saturday 11 February 2017 15:27, UK
Sam Allardyce could hand debuts to some of his new signings as he looks to get Crystal Palace back to winning ways at Stoke on Saturday.
Both Mamadou Sakho and Luka Milivojevic are available for the Eagles after arriving on Deadline Day, and the manager is targeting a vital three points after last weekend's 4-0 loss to Sunderland.
"We've got to take it on the chin and bounce back. We've got to show some real fighting spirit which everyone wants to see. We've got the fans travelling away for free so we'll have a big crowd to get behind the team," Allardyce said.
"I haven't been relegated from the Premier League in my entire career, so it's the last thing I want. This team has a great chance of survival."
Stoke themselves have also hit a stumbling block in terms of form, drawing two and losing one of their last three Premier League games, and could push into the top 10 with a victory on Saturday.
One player who will certainly be on the bench is Saido Berahino, with manager Mark Hughes confirming that he is still lacking full match fitness.
Team news
Fellow new Crystal Palace recruit Jeffrey Schlupp (hamstring) could be involved after missing out last weekend, but Scott Dann will be sidelined after picking up a knock.
Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) and Glen Johnson (Achilles) are set to miss out once again for Stoke having each missed the last two games, but are nearing returns.
Ramadan Sobhi could be back in the matchday squad after completing his Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Egypt, while Geoff Cameron, Jonathan Walters (both knee), Jack Butland (ankle) and Stephen Ireland (broken leg) all remain sidelined.
Opta stats
Stoke have lost five of their last six Premier League matches against Palace (D1), losing each of the last four.
In all competitions, the Eagles are on a run of five consecutive victories against the Potters and haven't lost against them since August 2013.
Stoke have lost just one of their last 10 home Premier League games (W4 D5).
Allardyce has won only one of his seven Premier League visits as a manager to the bet365 Stadium (D2 L4) - a 1-0 win while West Ham manager in March 2013. This will be his eighth visit with his fourth different club (Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland previously).
Allardyce has collected just four points in his first seven Premier League games as Palace boss, his worst start as manager of a Premier League club (previous worst after seven games was nine points with Sunderland last season).
The Eagles have received the second most yellow cards in the Premier League this season (54) but are yet to receive a red card.
Christian Benteke has scored nine goals for the Eagles this season - only two Palace players have ever reached double figures in a Premier League season (Chris Armstrong, 15 in 1992-93 and Andy Johnson, 21 in 2004-05).
Stoke forward Berahino has hit three goals in seven Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace - against no side has he scored more (also scored three against Sunderland and West Ham).
Peter Crouch has been involved in five of Stoke's last eight Premier League goals (four goals, one assist).
Since his Premier League debut in September 2012, only Olivier Giroud (24) has scored more headed goals than Benteke (20), with four of those coming this season.
Merson's prediction
The performance Palace put on against Sunderland was shocking. You can lose games, everybody does, but you cannot capitulate to the league's bottom side at home in the manner Palace did against Sunderland. The way they fell apart so quickly was worrying.
Sam Allardyce has learnt very quickly that this job is a lot harder than it initially looked. Over the last calendar year, Palace have been bordering on atrocious. The one positive is that the only man who can get them out of danger is currently in charge. I never go against Stoke at home and Palace's recent form hasn't done anything to change my mind.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Stoke are Sky Bet's 21/10 favourites for the victory as Crystal Palace go up against odds of 13/5 to halt their slide, while the draw is priced at 12/5. The Eagles have been cut into even-money third favourites for relegation, while their visitors are considered to be in no such trouble at 40/1 to go down. Peter Crouch heads a wide-open first goalscorer market at 5/1 with Christian Benteke closely behind at 11/2.
There's £250,000 up for grabs again this weekend for simply predicting the six correct scores. Enter your selections by 3pm here.
