Newcastle United host Crystal Palace at St James' Park this afternoon with both sides targeting a top-10 Premier League finish this season.
Both Newcastle and Palace have enjoyed positive starts to the 2019/20 campaign, with Palace sitting ninth on 23 points after 17 games.
The Magpies are just a point behind the Eagles in 11th place, and games like this could be the difference between the top-10 and a relegation battle with so many sides in and around the same points total heading towards Christmas.
Palace have scored the second-fewest goals in the top flight with just 15, but a tight defence has made them hard to beat - and that could set up a tense tie in the north east.
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Team news
Palace's defensive issues continue with Mamadou Sakho suspended, while Gary Cahill and Joel Ward are both injured. Scott Dann underwent a scan after pulling up in training on Friday.
Patrick van Aanholt is a doubt so Jairo Riedewald could play at left-back again. Andros Townsend and Jeff Schlupp are also out.
Newcastle will be without Matt Ritchie, Allan Saint-Maximin, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Ki Sung-Yeung, but there is hope Jonjo Shelvey and Miguel Almiron will be fit.
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