Crystal Palace XI vs Watford: Confirmed team news, starting lineup and injury latest for Premier League today

Matt Verri23 February 2022

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira had some key attacking decisions to make for tonight’s Premier League clash with Watford.

The Frenchman opted to start Wilfried Zaha up front in the defeat to Chelsea, but has chosen to return to a more conventional striker Jean-Philippe Mateta fit and selected to start.

Michael Olise started in the No10 role against the Blues, as Vieira tweaked the midfield in the absence of Conor Gallagher, and the Palace boss has called on whoever starts to take their chance.

Gallagher himself returns.

“It’s about choosing the right profile regarding what I want and the way we want to play the game,” Vieira said.

“We have different options up front and we’re happy with what they’re doing at the moment in training.

“I want more from them, I want them to be more clinical in front of goal. I want them to gel even more because they have the quality and the potential to do it.”

Vieira confirmed both Nathan Ferguson and Joel Ward will be absent with injury. Goalkeeper Vicente Guaita may well recover in time to face Watford, after he was forced off at half-time at the weekend.

Crystal Palace predicted XI: Guaita, Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Gallagher, Kouyate, Zaha, Olise, Mateta

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