Palace v Watford

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Selhurst Park

Team news

Crystal Palace left-back Patrick van Aanholt misses out due to an ankle injury – with Jeffrey Schlupp likely to step in. On-loan Chelsea striker Loic Remy is not match fit after spending time out with a knock.

Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue is doubtful of making it due to illness but will be checked nearer to the game. Defender Daryl Janmaat (groin) and midfielder Nordin Amrabat (ankle) are now available. However, defender Christian Kabasele and former Palace midfielder Ben Watson are out.

Palace (from): Hennessey, Mandanda, Speroni, Ward, Kelly, Tomkins, Delaney, Sakho, Dann, Fryers, McArthur, Milivojevic, Ledley, Townsend, Kaikai, Cabaye, Zaha, Sako, Campbell, Schlupp, Lee, C Benteke.

Watford (from): Gomes, Pantilimon, Britos, Kaboul, Prodl, Mariappa, Cathcart, Zuniga, Janmaat, Holebas, Cleverley, Behrami, Amrabat, Doucoure, Capoue, Deeney, Success, Niang, Okaka.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"Watford have replaced good players with good players. Their recruitment has been exceptionally good. Troy Deeney is a good captain. And they play off of him a lot. He is a big danger man we have to snuff out tomorrow.

"We want to try and make it three wins in a row on Saturday and try and go undefeated for as long as possible. If we can't win, make sure we don't lose. Hopefully it will be a victory, but if not pick up a point that will be precious. We have to be totally focused and our best is demanded between now and the end of the season.

"We have found that we are more difficult to score against which has been one of my first aims, my first targets ever since I first came here.

"Once we began to do that we began to win football matches and three wins out of five have all come because we can keep clean sheets so the basis of our defensive unit has grown and got better and that has been a good way forward for us to get out of the trouble we are in.

"Mama has played a big part in that, as have Luka and Patrick, and the whole team as a whole are defending better."

Walter Mazzarri

"They (Palace) are one of those teams that, when you look at their squad, nobody thought when we started they would have fought relegation.

"The game will be decided by individuals. In order to have a positive outcome my players have to come to the pitch with their legs and their heads in perfect condition.

"They (Palace) are on a good run, are in good form and are in good condition. We will play them in their best moment as they come from two positive results. They've got an important fan base so it won't be easy.

"We go to the pitch knowing we cannot commit any mistakes. We have to go there and give everything in order to come out with a positive outcome.

"From now, all games will be extremely difficult and different from the first half of the season. They will all be battles, they will all be finals."

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Watford - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
13th	27	8	7	12	31

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
26/12/2016	League	Watford	1 - 1	Crystal Palace
24/04/2016	FA Cup	Crystal Palace	2 - 1	Watford
13/02/2016	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 2	Watford
27/09/2015	League	Watford	0 - 1	Crystal Palace
27/05/2013	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 0	Watford

All time results

Last meeting

Watford 1-1 Palace

Monday December 26 2016

Watford: Gomes, Britos, Kaboul, Prodl, Behrami (Deeney, 14), Guedioura, Janmaat (Zuniga, 4 (Sinclair, 85)), Holebas, Ighalo, Amrabat, Capoue

Subs not used: Doucoure, Cathcart, Kabasele, Pantilimon

Goals: Deeney (pen 71)

Bookings: Britos, Holebas

Palace: Hennessey, Delaney, Dann, Kelly, Ward, Puncheon, Townsend (Mutch, 74), Cabaye, Zaha, Flamini (Campbell, 81), Benteke

Subs not used: Fryers, Husin, Lee, Wan-Bissaka, Speroni

Goals: Cabaye (26)

Bookings: Delaney, Puncheon, Zaha, Benteke