Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Brentford - prediction, team news, lineups

Fresh from a historic opening-day victory over Arsenal, Brentford's first-ever away game in the Premier League sees them travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

While Thomas Frank's side produced one of the most memorable nights in the club's history last Friday, Patrick Vieira's Palace slumped to a 3-0 loss at European champions Chelsea.

Match preview

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For all of his successes against Chelsea as a player, Vieira knew the size of the task that he was facing at Stamford Bridge during the opening weekend of the season, and he was forced to witness his side be overwhelmed by a dominant Blues outfit last week.

Marcos Alonso's stunning free kick began the rout before Christian Pulisic and Trevoh Chalobah - soon overcome by emotion - both found the back of the net against the Eagles, whose busy summer of spending did not pay dividends at Stamford Bridge.

However, with Michael Olise injured and Conor Gallagher ineligible, Marc Guehi was the only summer arrival to feature from the first whistle against Thomas Tuchel's side, but an early wave of pre-season optimism may now have subsided for Palace.

Following last week's defeat, Vieira was quick to announce his desire to bring more players in before the transfer window closes, but for now, the Arsenal Invincible must aim to avoid steering Palace to their fourth Premier League defeat in a row during his first Selhurst Park fixture.

The visit of Brentford may look kind on paper, but Palace have never demonstrated a great affinity for London derbies - winless in nine and losing their last four such matches - while their opponents just came up trumps in a dream capital derby on the opening day.

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As lacklustre as Arsenal were, take nothing away from Brentford's fired-up and remarkable showing against their London rivals, as the Bees' return to the top flight after a 74-year absence started in the perfect manner with a 2-0 success in front of a raucous crowd.

The far better team over the course of 90 minutes, Frank's side scored their first-ever Premier League goal after 22 minutes as Sergi Canos rifled home an effort which beat Bernd Leno at his near post, and Christian Norgaard proceeded to bully his way through the Arsenal defence to head home and see out a dominant win.

The Gunners may have lost Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette to illness on the morning of the game, but Frank's side did not rest on their laurels as heart-warming scenes followed after the final whistle at the Brentford Community Stadium.

However, the Bees share Palace's disdain for London derbies, as the visitors have claimed just two wins from their last 12 such matches ahead of their first ever away game in the Premier League, but the momentum is firmly on their side.

Not since 1982 have Palace and Brentford locked horns in any competition, with the sides playing out a 2-2 draw in the Football League Trophy 39 years ago, while their most recent league meeting in 1964 saw the Eagles win 1-0 in the third division.

Team News

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Chelsea loanee Gallagher was not available to face his parent club last weekend but will be ready for selection here, and a rejigged formation could see the Englishman displace Jeffrey Schlupp in the side.

Fellow new arrival Joachim Andersen was only deemed ready for a spot on the bench last week alongside Christian Benteke, but both men should come into Vieira's thinking for starts this weekend.

Luka Milivojevic's involvement is uncertain due to personal reasons, while the trio of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Nathan Ferguson remain in the treatment room.

Brentford boss Frank will certainly resist the need to make any changes to his starting XI if he can help it, but Kristoffer Ajer will need to be assessed after taking a blow to the ankle on the opening day.

The former Celtic man is not thought to be carrying anything serious and should be fit to line up alongside Ethan Pinnock and Pontus Jansson once again, but Josh Dasilva and Mathias Jensen are expected to remain out.

Frank has welcomed 24-year-old attacker Yoane Wissa to the club from Lorient and he was on the bench against Arsenal, but Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney ought to lead the line once more.

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Riedewald, Gallagher, McArthur; Ayew, Benteke, Zaha

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Ajer, Pinnock, Jansson; Canos, Norgaard, Onyeka, Janelt, Henry; Toney, Mbeumo

We say: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brentford

Brentford's jubilant supporters certainly played a key role in their side's success over Arsenal, and it will be interesting to see how the Bees respond on hostile away territory in the Premier League.

A Palace reshuffle should have Vieira's men in with a fighting chance of gleaning at least a point from this game, and the Eagles should put up more of a resistance than Arsenal did, so we expect a derby-day draw at Selhurst Park.