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Football London
Football London
Sport
Robert Warlow

Milivojevic and Townsend return, Ayew up front: Predicted Palace line up vs Sheffield United

It is back to Premier League action for Crystal Palace as they welcome Sheffield United to Selhurst Park today.

The Eagles host the Blades in south London, with the two sides separated by three points in the table.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United have enjoyed a superb season back in the top flight, with the Blades sitting in eighth position with 33 points from 24 games, while Palace are 11th with 30 points.

The last time the two sides met was back in August, when a John Lundstram goal proved to be the difference at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United celebrated their return to the top flight with a win in their first home game back in the Premier League.

As such, Palace will be hoping to turn the tables on the Blades, with Eagles boss Roy Hodgson boosted by the return to fitness of several key players for the game in south London.

Full-backs Patrick van Aanholt and Joel Ward are in contention to star after recovering from injuries, while Andros Townsend and Christian Benteke are also back, having both been out since December.

Captain Luka Milivojevic is also available again following a three-game suspension.

Hodgson will, therefore, have some decisions to make over his team selection, and whether to start any of the returning stars as he considers changes after the 2-0 defeat at home against Southampton last time out.

With that in mind, we take a look at how the Eagles could line up below.

Vicente Guaita will continue in goal, but in front of him he could have a different looking back four.

Jairo Riedewald (Photo: Getty Images)

Jairo Riedewald has impressed at left-back in van Aanholt's absence, winning Palace's player of the month award for January, as voted for by the fans.

But with the Dutchman, who Hodgson has described as one of the best left-backs in the league, being available again, he could come back into the starting XI.

Similarly, Ward could replace Kelly at right-back, but in the middle of defence, James Tomkins and Gary Cahill are likely to continue.

In midfield, Milivojevic should return to captain the side, with one of Cheikhou Kouyate, James McArthur or James McCarthy dropping to the bench.

Prior to his suspension, Milivojevic, Kouyate and McArthur were the preferred trio and Hodgson could revert to that again.

With Cenk Tosun ruled out through injury, Jordan Ayew is likely to play up top again, with Wilfried Zaha on one wing and Andros Townsend in line for a recall on the other.

That would leave Christian Benteke on the bench.

Predicted Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Cahill, Tomkins, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Kouyate, McArthur, Zaha, Townsend, Ayew.

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