Patrick Vieira has made five changes to his Crystal Palace starting XI for tonight’s Premier League clash with Leeds at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles are currently on a three-game losing streak following defeats to Leicester, Chelsea and Newcastle and will hope a positive result tonight will help push them back towards the top half of the table. To do that, Vieira has made several key changes to his team to take on the Whites.
Michael Olise was substituted during the first half against Newcastle last week, with Vieira saying afterwards that the winger was not at 100%, hence his withdrawal. His spot in the starting XI tonight is taken by Jordan Ayew, who also replaced him at St. James' Park.
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Another change sees Tyrick Mitchell drop out in place of Joel Ward at left-back. Mitchell had started every Premier League game of the season until tonight, with Vieira saying the 22-year-old had been going through a “difficult period” of late following mistakes against Chelsea and Newcastle.
Palace's other change tonight sees Ebere Eze start in the league for the first time since January. He replaces Jeffrey Schlupp in the midfield and will be tasked with helping unlock Leeds' defence alongside Conor Gallagher.
Elsewhere, Vicente Guaita returns in goal behind Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi at centre-back. Nathaniel Clyne keeps his place at right-back meanwhile, with the back four completed by Ward filling in on the left. Palace have not kept a clean sheet since their 3-0 home win over Arsenal at Selhurst Park at the start of April, having not conceded in the three games prior to that fixture also.
In midfield, Cheikhou Kouyate is on the bench and James McArthur starts ahead of him. He will likely be asked to play a more defensive role in the midfield with Gallagher and Eze ahead of him pushing forward. This is the first time Eze has started a league game alongside Gallagher and McArthur, with the latter out injured during his only previous start against Brighton in January.
Wilfried Zaha keeps his place in the front three meanwhile with Ayew on the opposite flank. Jean-Philippe Mateta then returns to lead the line ahead of Odsonne Edouard - who started against Newcastle - and Christian Benteke, both of whom are on the bench.
Crystal Palace starting XI : Guaita, Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Ward, McArthur, Eze, Gallagher, Ayew, Mateta, Zaha.
