Crystal Palace v Watford preview: Patrick van Aanholt missing for Eagles
Saturday 18 March 2017 14:09, UK
Crystal Palace will be without Patrick van Aanholt for Saturday's Premier League visit of Watford.
The Dutch full-back is recovering from an ankle injury and manager Sam Allardyce has revealed the Hornets clash will come too soon.
The news will come as a blow to the Eagles, who have won more points in their last two Premier League games (six) than they had in their previous eight matches (four).
Watford, meanwhile, head to Selhurst Park looking to improve their wretched record against Palace.
The Hornets have suffered 43 league defeats against Crystal Palace - only versus QPR (48) have they lost more in league competition.
Team news
Palace loanee Loic Remy is expected to return after the international break while Connor Wickham and Pape Souare are still missing for the hosts.
Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue may miss out through illness.
Capoue, who has started every Premier League game for the Hornets so far this season, missed training on Wednesday and Thursday due to a fever and he will be assessed on Friday.
Right-back Daryl Janmaat (groin) and midfielder Nordin Amrabat (ankle) are back in contention - Amrabat for the first time since New Year's Day - but Christian Kabasele and Ben Watson are still not fit.
Opta stats
Crystal Palace have scored in each of their last 13 encounters with Watford in all competitions, including all three previous PL meetings (W8 D3 L2).
Watford have won their last two trips to Selhurst Park, after a run of three successive defeats (3-2 in August 2012 and 2-1 in February 2016).
Troy Deeney has scored four goals in his last three appearances against Crystal Palace in all competitions.
Deeney has scored more goals in his last six Premier League appearances (five) than he had in his previous 21 (four) in the competition this season.
Merson's prediction
Massive game for Palace and I think they have to win this match, I really do, with their fixtures coming up. They have still got to play all the top six teams, so this is a must-win football match.
I look and they have to play the top six teams, so if they got three points out of those games, which would still be a good return, that means they are five or six points clear of relegation and then other teams have got six games in hand the way I look at it.
So this is a must, must-win game - if they win this game, then it will be nine points ahead (of Sunderland) and that is a lot of points. So a must, must-win game for Crystal Palace and I expect them to win this game at home.
Watford, for me, I always go 1-1 - I do not know what I am going to get with Watford, I really do not - but I am going to go 2-1.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Crystal Palace are Sky Bet's 10/11 favourites for the victory with Watford 16/5 while another draw between the two sides is priced at 12/5. Christian Benteke heads the first goalscorer betting at 7/2 with Troy Deeney considered the visitors' main threat at 15/2, while the strike duo are 7/1 to both find the net.
