Crystal Palace v Newcastle: Preview, predicted line-ups & team news

Crystal Palace were beaten 5-0 at Brighton last Sunday, and they now host a Newcastle side that has not been much better lately.

Palace let in five goals on the south coast one week after beating Nottingham Forest 3-1 at Selhurst Park. It was the heaviest defeat of a season that has already brought a 4-1 home loss to Manchester City and a 3-2 home loss to Ipswich.

They have scored once in their last two games and conceded five.

Someone's slump has to end on Sunday afternoon.

Palace sit 14th on 7 points from seven games, with a goal difference of minus 8. Their form reads LWLDWL in the league, with two wins in seven.

The problem is at the back. They have conceded 17 goals, an average of 2.4 per game, and kept one clean sheet. Their expected goals against over those seven games is 2.11, so the numbers say the defence is being opened up as often as the scorelines suggest.

Selhurst Park has been kinder to the attack. Palace have scored 6 in three home league games, an average of 2.0, and have not failed to score at home all season. All three of their blanks have come away from home.

Newcastle are 11th on 8 points, one ahead of Palace, with a goal difference of minus 4. They have won two of their seven league games and drawn two, including a 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool and another 2-2 with Bournemouth.

Away from home they have conceded 8 goals in three league games, an average of 2.7, and lost 4-1 at Leeds and 4-1 at Coventry in the past six weeks.

Newcastle have more of the ball than Palace, averaging 51.4% possession against 43.3%. They have turned that into a side that creates chances but struggles to keep opponents out.

Over their last seven league games Palace have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 4, scoring 9 and conceding 17. Newcastle have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 3, scoring 10 and conceding 14. Neither is in shape, but Newcastle's results have been slightly better and they have lost by one goal as often as by three. Palace's last two results, a 3-1 win over Forest and a 5-0 loss at Brighton, show how erratic they are. Newcastle have scored 10 and shipped 14, so goals at both ends look likely whoever starts on top.

Palace are 14th on 7 points from seven games. Newcastle are 11th on 8 points from seven. That gap of a point is small, and the table is tight. Ninth-placed Ipswich have 10 points from eight games, while Coventry in 18th have 6 from seven. Palace are a point above the bottom three on goal difference alone, with minus 8 matching Coventry's.

A win would lift Palace above Newcastle and into the top half, at least until the other results come in. A defeat would drop them level with, or below, the relegation places. For Newcastle, a win would put them within touching distance of the top eight. A loss would leave them in the bottom half and with three defeats in their last four.

Newcastle have the edge over the last 10 meetings, with 4 wins to Palace's 2 and 4 draws. The games have averaged 1.9 goals, 20% have seen both teams score and 30% have gone over 2.5 goals. Palace won the most recent meeting 2-1 at Selhurst Park on 12 April 2026.

The rivalry has been low-scoring and the home side has done well in south London. Palace won 2-0 and 2-1 in their last two home games against Newcastle in April 2024 and April 2026. This season's form points the other way, with both defences leaking goals. The betting market has priced in the shift: both teams to score is 2/5 and over 2.5 goals is 1/2, well above the 20% and 30% H2H rates. A tight scoreline such as 2-1 is more likely than a goal-fest.

The biggest gap between the sides is on the ball. Newcastle average 12.3 shots and 51.4% possession over their last seven league games, against Palace's 10.1 shots and 43.3%. Palace should be happy to sit back and break.

The other gap is at the back. Palace have an expected goals against figure of 2.11 and concede 2.4 per game, against Newcastle's 1.75 and 2.0. Palace also give up 5.7 corners per game, which suggests Newcastle will camp in their half for spells. Newcastle's problem is finishing: their expected goals for is 1.18 per game, and they have not scored more than twice in any league game.

Palace have played 3-4-2-1 in all seven league games and are likely to keep to it. Newcastle have used 4-2-3-1 throughout. Palace's goalkeeper position is a late call with Henderson doubtful.

Crystal Palace: Benítez; Richards, Canvot, Mingueza; Mitchell, Lerma, Wharton, Chilwell; Pino, Sarr; Mateta

Newcastle: Pope; Hall, Schär, Botman, Dedić; Willock, Touré; Murphy, Joelinton, Barnes; Wissa

The game kicks off at 14:00 GMT on Sunday 25 October (the clocks go back that morning). The Premier League's UK rights are held by Sky Sports and TNT Sports, and the game will be shown on Sky Sports where selected. We have not been able to confirm the exact channel yet, so this page will be updated closer to kick-off. Sky Sports subscribers can stream through the Sky Go app.

The value sits with the home side. Palace are 2/1 to win at a ground where they have scored 2.0 goals per game, against a Newcastle defence conceding 2.7 away. The goals markets are short, so we have kept the singles tight and put the heavier lifting in the bet builder, where Double Chance and Mateta's goal carry the price.