Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United predictions as Paul Merson 'baffled' by Magpies

Newcastle United head to Crystal Palace this weekend itching to make amends for Monday night's disappointing 2-0 home defeat to West Ham. But they will come up against an Eagles side determined to to build on their recent improved form.

Palace have struggled this season, but have picked up points at Wolves and Aston Villa in recent weeks, as well knocking Unai Emery's side out of the Carabao Cup, plus a home win over Tottenham. United, of course, had been in good form before the international break, and will look to rekindle the performances from the wins over Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

Eddie Howe will make late fitness calls on Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock, but has Dan Burn available after his one-match suspension. Callum Wilson also returned to action for the first time this season and will aim to increase his fitness with more minutes at Selhurst Park.

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The Premier League pundits have been making their predictions for the weekend's big games - here's what they've had to say about Crystal Palace vs Newcastle, starting with United goalscoring hero Alan Shearer.

Alan Shearer

"This is a tough one to predict," the Newcastle United legend told Betfair. "With what happened to Newcastle on Monday evening, they’ll have had a few days to reflect. There’s a vulnerability about Crystal Palace albeit they got a really good result last weekend against Aston Villa and perhaps deserved to win the game. I’ll go for a draw."

Prediction: Draw.

Chris Sutton

"Crystal Palace have still only won one league game all season, against Tottenham at the end of October," Sutton said in his BBC predictions column. "The Eagles got a good point at Aston Villa last weekend but their manager Oliver Glasner definitely needs more than that to provide some early Christmas cheer.

"I am not sure Glasner will get much joy here, though. Although I did not expect Newcastle lose at home to West Ham on Monday, I would not be surprised to see them bounce back. This smells of a draw to me, because I do not see Newcastle losing."

Prediction: Palace 1-1 Newcastle

Paul Merson

“When you talk about results from last weekend, the one that I did not see coming was Newcastle losing to West Ham," Merson told Sportskeeda. "I was expecting them to turn up and win easily. That is a really bad loss for Newcastle in my opinion. It baffles me how they ended up losing to that West Ham team!

“They now face Crystal Palace, who I thought were really good away from home against Aston Villa last time out. They looked like a serious threat on the counter and used pace to their advantage. You could say Palace rode their luck at times in that game, but so did Villa.

“Palace are 19th at the moment and will now face an uphill battle to avoid relegation. Southampton are the only team with fewer goals than them this season, so that’s an area where they must improve if they want to survive in this division. I can definitely see Newcastle scoring in this game, but I have a feeling Palace can match them."

Prediction: Palace 2-2 Newcastle

Harry Redknapp

"Crystal Palace have been improving in recent weeks, but they keep drawing games!" Redknapp told BetVictor. "A draw away to Aston Villa is a great result for them and should give the squad a lift.

"I can’t believe Newcastle against West Ham, that was a real shock to me. They had their chances, but they just didn’t take them and seemed to lose their way as the game went on. Crystal Palace aren’t having a great season but have upset some big sides so far, I’m thinking about that win versus Tottenham. I can see a scrappy draw here.

"Newcastle fans had some brilliant flags for their star man Alexander Isak the other night and he went and drew a blank! That could change here."

Prediction: Palace 1-1 Newcastle

Mark Lawrenson

Short and sweet from Lawro this week, who told Paddy Power: "Newcastle lost to West Ham and Crystal Palace drew with Aston Villa last time. I fancy Newcastle to bounce back here though."

Prediction: Palace 1-2 Newcastle