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

Two sides that have struggled for consistency so far this season face off at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon as Crystal Palace play host to Leicester City.

The Eagles have taken six points from their opening six Premier League matches, while Leicester have accrued one point more from the same number of games.

Match preview

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Following back-to-back fifth-placed finishes in the top flight, plus last season's memorable FA Cup triumph, there is a fear that another cycle is coming to an end for Leicester.

The Foxes have won just two of their six league games this term, most recently losing to Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion prior to drawing 2-2 with Burnley last time out.

Brendan Rodgers's side also went down 1-0 to Legia Warsaw in Thursday's Europa League group-stage match, two weeks on from squandering a two-goal lead to draw at home to Napoli.

A win is much needed this weekend to boost morale heading into the international break, then, but City have won just one of their last five away league games against Palace.

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The Eagles are also unbeaten in their four home matches under Patrick Vieira, beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 at Selhurst Park either side of draws with Brentford and Brighton.

That draw with bitter rivals Brighton will very much feel like two points dropped, though, as they conceded to a 95th-minute strike from Neal Maupay on home soil.

It has therefore been a rather mixed start to his first managerial job in English football for Vieira, but the outcome of Sunday's result could change the mood entirely.

The good news for Palace is that Leicester have lost each of their last three away games against London clubs, most recently going down 4-1 to West Ham United last month.

Team News

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Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson remain Palace's only confirmed absentees, meaning Vieira has the option to tweak things slightly against Leicester should he wish.

Odsonne Edouard and Luka Milivojevic were brought into the side as the Eagles' only two changes for the Brighton match, but Vieira has still yet to find his preferred XI.

Conor Gallagher is a nailed on starter after scooping back-to-back Player of the Month awards since joining on loan from Chelsea, while Wilfried Zaha's spot is also not in question.

The Ivory Coast international has scored 49 Premier League goals and could become the first player in Palace's history to reach 50 in the top flight.

Whereas Palace have had nearly a week's rest between matches, Leicester face a quick turnaround in games following Thursday's trip to the Polish capital.

Rodgers made six changes for that loss to Legia Warsaw and could revert back to a similar lineup to the one that faced Burnley.

Jonny Evans did not travel in midweek, while Wilfred Ndidi was suspended, so both players should slot back into the XI.

Kelechi Iheanacho is another who did not play on Thursday, though that was down to admin issues, but Rodgers may well go with Jamie Vardy up top again.

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

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Bertrand; Ndidi, Tielemans; Lookman, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy

We say: Crystal Palace 1-1 Leicester City

Palace are without a win in four matches against Leicester, but they have yet to lose on home soil this term, whereas City have lost three of their last four away league games.

The Eagles have drawn three of their last five matches overall, and we can see another point being added to the board this weekend with a draw against inconsistent Leicester.