Form and context

Crystal Palace host Newcastle at Selhurst Park on Sunday with both sides looking for a spark. Palace have conceded 17 goals in seven Premier League matches and were beaten 5-0 at Brighton last weekend before drawing 2-2 at Besiktas in the Europa League. Newcastle have lost three of their last four league games and sit on eight points from seven matches.

Team news

• Crystal Palace: Jorgen Strand Larsen is a doubt after withdrawing from the Besiktas game following an awkward landing. Takehiro Tomiyasu is out and Quinten Timber is also a doubt after missing the trip to Turkey. Dean Henderson could return after seven weeks out with an ankle injury.
• Newcastle: Anthony Elanga is available after seven weeks out, though he cannot play 90 minutes. Jacob Ramsey is back in training but his involvement was not confirmed. Matias Fernandez-Pardo has trained only partially because of illness and is hoped to recover in time. Tino Livramento and Ewen Jaouen are sidelined with knee injuries.

What the numbers say

• Palace's last five in all competitions: 2-2 at Besiktas, 0-5 at Brighton, 2-3 at Lyon, 3-1 v Nottingham Forest, 0-0 at Leeds.
• Newcastle's last five in all competitions: 0-1 v Aston Villa, 1-4 at Coventry, 2-1 v Hull City, 1-4 at Leeds, 1-0 at Millwall.
• Newcastle have not kept a league clean sheet for 13 games, equalling a club record.
• The last meeting ended 2-1 to Crystal Palace in April 2026; Newcastle won the two before that.

Our view

Both managers are under scrutiny, with Sage warned that things must improve quickly and Newcastle's run of results drawing criticism. Palace's defensive problems are clear, but Newcastle's away form has been poor and Elanga's return is likely to be gradual.

Most likely outcome: draw - two unsettled sides with defensive issues and neither in convincing form.