Crystal Palace vs West Ham preview, predictions and team news
West Ham will look to win back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since August when they travel to London rivals Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
The Hammers made a promising start to the season but have tailed off in recent months, picking up just two victories in their last 11 Premier League outings, heaping pressure on manager Manuel Pellegrini.
The latest of those wins came away at Southampton earlier this month and they will fancy their chances of registering another positive result against a Palace side without a win in three, scoring just one goal during that time.
Can the Hammers kick-start their faltering season or will the Eagles get back on track? Read on for our preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Crystal Palace vs West Ham and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Selhurst Park
Date: Thursday, 26 December 2019
Kick-off: 3:00 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): The game is not available on traditional TV but can be live streamed on Amazon Prime.
Last five meetings: Crystal Palace vs West Ham
05 Oct 2019: West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
09 Feb 2019: Crystal Palace 1-1 West Ham (Premier League)
08 Dec 2018: West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
30 Jan 2018: West Ham 1-1 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
28 Oct 2017: Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham (Premier League)
Aggregate Score: Crystal Palace (WDLDD) 8-8 West Ham (LDWDD)
Ones to watch
Crystal Palace: Wilfried Zaha
Transfer rumours are swirling once again and it’s a possibility Wilfried Zaha won’t be a Palace player come the end of January.
Roy Hodgson will want to get as much out of his talisman is possible in the coming matches and regardless of where his future lies, Zaha remains Palace’s most important attacker. The West Ham defence will have to keep close tabs on his whereabouts if they’re to leave Selhurst Park with a result.
Key stat: Zaha has completed more take-ons (83) than any other player in the Premier League.
West Ham: Felipe Anderson
Given the number of impressive playmakers and forwards at their disposal, it has to come as a surprise to see West Ham ranking as the sixth-lowest team in the Premier League in terms of chances created (146).
The Hammers need to find their spark if they’re to start climbing the table again and one man entrusted to help that goal more than any other is Felipe Anderson. On his day, the Brazilian can be one of the most exciting players in the Premier League, but West Ham need him to be far more consistent.
Key stat: No West Ham player has provided more assists in the Premier League this season than Felipe Anderson (3).
Team news
Crystal Palace
COME ON YOU PALACE #CPFC | #CRYWHU
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 26, 2019
West Ham
Our team to take on Crystal Palace ⚒ pic.twitter.com/s7sYdVfqoD
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 26, 2019
Odds (via Betway)
Crystal Palace to win: 11/8
Draw: 23/10
West Ham to win: 2/1
(Odds correct as of 10:00 on 26/12/2019)
Click here for full details of Betway’s Premier League markets.
Squawka prediction
Crystal Palace have gone off the boil slightly in recent weeks but face a West Ham side horrifically short of consistency.
The Hammers will be fuelled by the confidence of their victory over Southampton last time out but, in reality, given their inconsistency, a point would be a rather decent result at Selhurst Park.
