Newcastle United, who are currently in good form, have the chance to climb up to third place in the Premier League standings if they win against Crystal Palace at St James' Park on Wednesday.
The Magpies have won five consecutive matches in various competitions, with a standout victory being their Carabao Cup win over Liverpool. Another win this week would boost their chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Crystal Palace, who are in mid-table, have also been in good form but their eight-game unbeaten streak came to a halt in a dramatic fashion when they lost 5-2 to Manchester City over the weekend after squandering a two-goal lead.
Team news
Newcastle emerged unscathed from their 4-1 victory against Manchester United on Sunday and could see the return of Joe Willock, who missed the match due to concussion protocols.
Injuries continue to sideline Lewis Hall, Jamaal Lascelles, and Sven Botman, while there is uncertainty over head coach Eddie Howe's participation after recent hospitalization.
Crystal Palace will welcome back Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah from suspension, and Romain Esse and Matt Turner are looking to return from illness. Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure remain long-term absentees for manager Oliver Glasner.
The stats
Newcastle's winning streak includes four Premier League victories and the cup final success, with a total of 12 goals scored during this period.
The Magpies have won six of their last eight home league matches, scoring at least two goals in each of those wins.
Palace had an unbeaten run of eight matches before their defeat to Man City, which also brought an end to their 10-game unbeaten streak away from home in the Premier League.
In their previous encounter earlier this season, these teams played out a 1-1 draw, while Newcastle secured a 4-0 win in their last meeting at St James' Park in October 2023.
Prediction
This upcoming match will feature two of the Premier League's in-form teams, but while Newcastle is riding high on their recent successes, Palace might be shaken after their loss to City.
Although the return of Guehi could strengthen Palace's defense, stopping Newcastle's attacking prowess might prove challenging for the Eagles.
While Palace has been scoring consistently, Newcastle's goal-scoring form could give them the edge in this fixture. However, Palace's ability to find the back of the net means that Newcastle will need to maintain their defensive solidity to secure the victory.