Crystal Palace host Newcastle United at Selhurst Park in the Premier League, with kick-off set for 2:00pm GMT — and both Pierre Sage and Matthias Jaissle are desperately seeking a positive result.

Palace looking to bounce back after Brighton humiliation

The Eagles arrive at this fixture on the back of a bruising 5-0 defeat at rivals Brighton & Hove Albion last Sunday — a result that has heaped pressure on manager Sage. With 17 goals conceded in just seven Premier League matches, Crystal Palace carry the division's most porous defence into this weekend's clash.

A midweek trip to Istanbul offered some encouragement. Palace fought back to earn a 2-2 draw against Besiktas in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, though the result did little to silence questions about Sage's position. The Eagles have collected only seven points so far this season, making the home fixture against Newcastle a near-essential opportunity to rebuild momentum.

Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen faces a late fitness assessment after picking up a knock in Turkey, while goalkeeper and captain Dean Henderson is edging closer to a return from injury.

Newcastle's alarming away form

Newcastle United arrive at Selhurst Park with their own set of troubles. Jaissle's side have won just one of their last four Premier League matches, suffering back-to-back 4-1 defeats away at Leeds United and Coventry City before being booed off at St. James' Park following a 1-0 home loss to Aston Villa last weekend.

The Magpies sit 11th in the table, still within a reasonable distance of the upper half, but the mood around the club is growing increasingly anxious. Jaissle, however, may be boosted by the return of winger Anthony Elanga from injury — a timely injection of pace and creativity on the flanks.

Newcastle have not won at Selhurst Park since November 2020, a record they will be eager to overturn despite their fragile confidence on the road.

Prediction

With neither manager able to afford a defeat, expect caution to define this contest. A 1-1 draw looks the most likely outcome — a result that will satisfy nobody but may, in the circumstances, feel like the safest landing for both sides.