Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
By Jake Purvis
Saturday night's entertainment takes us to the south coast where Bournemouth greet Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
The Cherries have generally avoided relegation scraps since their promotion to the top flight in 2015, but sit 18th after a pre-lockdown run of three losses in four games. They're level on points with both Watford and West Ham, but their goal difference is worse.
Crystal Palace were previously tipped as relegation contenders after picking up just one win between December and February. However, good ol' Roy Hodgson has tightened the ship, thrown anyone who is not onboard overboard, and steered Palace to their second home - mid-table.
Where to Watch
When Is Kick Off? Saturday 20 June
What Time Is Kick Off? 19:45 (BST)
Where Is it Played? Vitality Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? BBC One (UK)
Referee? Stuart Attwell
Team News
Ryan Fraser may never pull on a Bournemouth kit again following his decision to snub a short-term contract offer and will leave the club on 30 June. Conversely, Artur Boruc, Simon Francis, Andrew Surman and Charlie Daniels have all signed on, with all but Daniels fit for selection.
Long-term absentee David Brooks is back in the squad, while Callum Wilson should start up front after netting three goals in his last six games before the break.
The break in action has allowed a few Palace players to recover from knocks. Mamadou Sakho is back at Hodgson's disposal, but Jeffrey Schlupp, James Tomkins and Martin Kelly are unavailable.
Jordan Ayew is expected to lead the line again, with his eight goals earning his side 14 points this season. Without these points, Palace would sit below Bournemouth in 19th.
Predicted Lineups
Bournemouth: Ramsdale; A. Smith, S. Cook, Ake, Rico; Brooks, Billing, Lerma, L. Cook, King; C. Wilson.
Crystal Palace: Guaita; Ward, Sakho, Cahill, Van Aanholt; Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur; Ayew, Benteke, Zaha.
Recent Form
Recent form isn't really a thing at the minute, given every team has had some time off, but if we were to look back then the two clubs' recent form couldn't be any different.
Palace have enjoyed a three-match winning streak, defeating Newcastle, Brighton and Watford. On the other side of the coin you have Bournemouth, who haven't won a game since 1 February, struggling with a number of tough fixtures prior to the break.
Here's how the two teams have fared in their last five outings.
Bournemouth
Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth (7/3)
Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea (29/2)
Burnley 3-0 Bournemouth (22/2)
Sheffield United 2-1 Bournemouth (9/2)
Bournemouth 2-1 Aston Villa (1/2)
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford (7/3)
Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace (29/2)
Crystal Palace 1-0 Newcastle (22/2)
Everton 3-1 Crystal Palace (8/2)
Crystal Palace 0-1 Sheffield United (1/2)
Prediction
While the two teams' form couldn't have been more different before the enforced break, it is hard to see past a draw for this one.
Palace struggle to score more than once a game - though coincidentally they did smash Saturday's opponents 5-3 on the final day of last season. Bournemouth can't stop leaking goals either so it looks to be going only one way.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Crystal Palace