Jamie Vardy gives Ruud van Nistelrooy lift-off as Leicester down West Ham
It was just over nine years ago when Jamie Vardy broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s goalscoring record, so it was perhaps inevitable that Leicester’s greatest ever signing would kick off this new era.
Vardy’s goal was lifted straight from that 2015-16 title season, when miracles became reality, and while Van Nistelrooy was celebrating a bright start it looks increasingly likely that the end is near for Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham’s manager endured calls of “sacked in the morning” from his own supporters and is under severe pressure after a seventh league defeat of the season.
Yet what of Van Nistelrooy? He was certainly given encouragement for the future after a stirring night on his first permanent managerial job in England.
Of course, the former Manchester United striker and Vardy have previous, after Leicester’s £1 million signing scored in 11 consecutive league games to claim Van Nistelrooy’s record.
Vardy will be 38 next month but remains the club’s talisman and utterly essential to their hopes of survival.
Van Nistelrooy said: “It was such a calm finish and Jamie just makes it look easy. It gave us a great start and in the position we’re in, this win was vital. I’m going to allow myself a little beer and reflect on this.
“With the other fixtures this week we knew this was a big one for us. It’s been a very busy period but we know that in every game we play everything must be right.”
Leicester’s disillusioned supporters have certainly needed a lift. Their anger has been simmering for at least the past two seasons, with frustration still lingering over the relegation campaign.
Yet the appointment of Van Nistelrooy last Friday has finally changed the mood music.
Just 98 seconds had elapsed when Bilal El Khannouss threaded through a fine pass and Vardy timed his run perfectly to slot the ball under Lukasz Fabianski.
Initially flagged offside, the goal went before a VAR review and it was clear from replays that West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos had played him on.
Vardy was clearly in the mood, and he was not the only one with goalkeeper Mads Hermansen outstanding in the first half with two fine saves from Jarrod Bowen.
West Ham’s pressure was relentless at times and an equaliser was disallowed when Hermansen spilled the ball into his own net, but was fouled by Tomas Soucek.
El Khannouss then piled on the agony by steering in a second goal just after the hour from Kasey McAteer’s cross.
West Ham continued to apply pressure but were completely out of luck. When substitute Crysencio Summerville poked Bowen’s cross towards goal, Conor Coady was there to clear from on the goal-line.
It got even worse for Lopetegui when Leicester substitute Patson Daka crashed in a third goal in added time.
Though Niclas Fullkrug nodded in a late consolation, it is hard to see how Lopetegui survives this.
10:25 PM GMT
Full-time scores
Ipswich Town 0 Crystal Palace 1
Leicester City 3 West Ham 1
Thanks for reading, keep your comments coming in. We’ll be back tomorrow for Wednesday’s six matches, which include Arsenal v Manchester United and Newcastle United v Liverpool.
10:21 PM GMT
A few choice stats
West Ham had 31 shots to Leicester City’s 8 and 61% possession, but they couldn’t do anything with it until the game was already out of their hands. And this one:
🦊 Efficient, @LCFC...#PLonPrime #LEIWHU pic.twitter.com/mSfsFZaxlu
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
10:17 PM GMT
Full time: Leicester 3 West Ham 1
New manager Ruud van Nistelrooy ends Leicester City’s losing run with aplomb. Bilal El-Khannouss and Jamie Vardy were the star men, but the whole XI showed their desire and determination, putting their bodies on the line.
They move up to 15th place in the Premier League on 13 points, one place and two points behind West Ham, who failed to convert their opportunities.
10:14 PM GMT
90+8 mins: Leicester 3 West Ham 1
Some players are walking about, almost out on their feet. This has had the feel of an all-action FA Cup match.
Into the ninth and final minute of added time. Fullkrug sends a header wide from an Emerson free kick. I make that 32 shots from the Londoners.
Julen Lopetegui is stony-faced, watching on the touchline. The pressure heightens on the Basque manager.
10:12 PM GMT
90+6 mins: Leicester 3 West Ham 1
And still, it is end-to-end. West Ham nearly bundle the ball in, then Leicester rove forward. James Justin seems to be contesting for a ball in.
Breathless, barmy stuff. Leicester City still have defensive frailties to work on, but my they were sharp going forward tonight to compensate.
10:09 PM GMT
GOAL! Leicester 3 West Ham 1 - Fullkrug
A consolation goal for West Ham from a corner. Fullkrug gets his first goal from a front post Summerville flick.
Too little, too late.
10:06 PM GMT
GOAL! Leicester 3 West Ham 0 - Daka
Party time at the King Power Stadium as Patson Daka fires home another goal. He touched the ball in past Kilman, paused as if to cut back then walloped the ball past Fabianski.
I’d love to see the xG disparity on this match. Leicester have been resilient and ruthlessly made the most of their few opportunities.
Someone should tell Ruud van Nistelrooy that games won’t always go like this.
09:59 PM GMT
83 mins: Leicester 2 West Ham 0
Disallowed goal for the home side. It looked like Bobby De Cordova-Reid had made sure of the three points. West Ham were exposed, and Kristiansen played Facundo Buonanotte in, who was marginally offside. He rolled it back to Daka, whose shot was parried by Fabianski. Reid made no mistake.
This time, the tight Var check ends up in West Ham’s favour.
09:54 PM GMT
79 mins: Leicester 2 West Ham 0
A reprieve for West Ham as Kilman gives the ball away while building play from the back. De Cordova-Reid’s ball to Daka is a tad too high and Fabianski dispossesses the Zambian forward as he tries to go round the goalie.
End-to-end play, as Michail Antonio shrugs off Leicester challenges on his way to the byline, but his ball hits Bowen in the face after coming off a Leicester player. No rub of the green for West Ham yet tonight.
09:51 PM GMT
Ecstacy and agony at the King Power Stadium
09:48 PM GMT
72 mins: Leicester 2 West Ham 0
This game has opened up as West Ham commit men forward. Kasey McAteer fires over after the Londoners gave the ball away in midfield. The Academy talent has been full of running and spark tonight.
09:46 PM GMT
Jon West’s verdict from Ipswich
Ipswich didn’t do enough to end that 22-year wait for a first Premier League win since 2002 and their fans knew it, supportive they were on the final whistle.
Palace deserved that and, with Eze back fit, can legitimately expect to move further away from the Tractor Boys in due course.
Guehi, for all the controversy surrounding his armband, should also be remembered for his part in the Eagles defence keeping Liam Delap quiet.
09:45 PM GMT
69 mins: Leicester 2 West Ham 0
Julen Lopetegui must be wondering what on earth his side has to do to score. Bowen’s cut-back on the edge of the six-yard box to Summerville is stabbed away on the goal-line by a back-pedalling Conor Coady. Hermansen was beaten.
Leicester’s defenders have really put their body on the line tonight; Justin also hurled himself at the ball alongside Summerville to deny him a clear shot.
09:42 PM GMT
67 mins: Leicester 2 West Ham 0
Superb reflex save by Fabianski to deny Wilfried Ndidi’s header, borderline point-blank, albeit straight at him. El Khannouss found him with a searching ball.
Now Leicester are the ones pushing for a third.
09:37 PM GMT
GOAL! Leicester 2 West Ham 0 - El Khannouss
And Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester go up the other end and make it two.
Casey McAteer cut in from the right and rolled it into the path of Bilal El Khannouss. It was placement over power, sidefooting it delicately into the corner past Fabianski.
Ruud van Nistelrooy pumps the air with his fists, and well he might. That’s a body blow for West Ham, well against the run of play.
Bilal El Khannouss makes Ruud van Nistelrooy a VERY happy man and Leicester stretch their advantage! 🙌🦊#PLonPrime #LEIWHU pic.twitter.com/LnZuD6m2sr
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
09:35 PM GMT
58 mins: Leicester 1 West Ham 0
The ball is in the back of the net, but West Ham are denied a bizarre goal. Mads Hermansen flapped at a high ball coming down under a little pressure, missed his punch and it bounced into the goal.
The referee comes to his blushes, adjudging Tomas Soucek to have fouled him. Hmm, not much in that.
09:32 PM GMT
56 mins: Leicester 1 West Ham 0
Mads Hermansen is a one-man wall for Leicester City. He back-pedals and saves well from a deflected Mohammed Kudus shot, which looped up wickedly and was bound for the top corner.
Still, West Ham lay siege to their goal. Just the 23 shots for the visitors, and counting, as Soler strikes at goal and it brushes a Leicester City back on the way out.
09:27 PM GMT
Leicester are pushing their luck...
20 - There are three occasions on record (since 2003-04) of a team having 20 shots in the first half of a Premier League match without scoring - all three have come against Leicester City:
Liverpool in December 2015
Crystal Palace in April 2023
West Ham tonight.
Quirk.— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 3, 2024
09:26 PM GMT
Full-time: Ipswich 0 Palace 1
Three precious points for Crystal Palace, who will move up to 16th place in the Premier League. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s touch of class proved the difference in a closely-fought, scrappy game. A big relief for Oliver Glasner.
Meanwhile, the wait for a home win in the Premier League continues for Kieran McKenna.
09:22 PM GMT
90+1 mins: Ipswich 0 Palace 1
Ipswich push for an equaliser, camping out in the Palace half and shifting the ball around. Henderson comes a long way to punch away a Clarke cross. An offside call relieves a lot of that pressure. Sixty seconds to go now for the south Londoners.
09:20 PM GMT
89 mins: Ipswich 0 Palace 1
They’re back out at the King Power Stadium, but I’ll stay at Portman Road for the last minutes of this match.
Eddie Nketiah is on for Ismaila Sarr. Three minutes of added time are signalled. Crystal Palace are three minutes from their first away victory of the Premier League season.
09:19 PM GMT
20 shots but no goals for West Ham
Just the 20 shots for West Ham in that first half - no wonder Julen Lopetegui looks so uncomfortable in the technical area.
Lopetegui’s team had all the cutting edge of a plastic spatula yet must be wondering how they have failed to equalise.
Leicester have their Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen to thank for an excellent first-half performance. Can the Foxes hold on in the second half?
09:18 PM GMT
87 mins: Ipswich 0 Palace 1
Ooof, that was close. Al-Hamadi goes down just outside the box though and Ipswich come very close from a clever short free-kick move.
Chaplin plays the ball over to Greaves at the back post and Broadhead cannot stretch and bundle in his header after it came off the post. On second glance, Henderson got a faint touch. Valuable save, that.
09:10 PM GMT
80 mins: Ipswich 0 Palace 1
Kieran McKenna has made three substitutes, sending on Conor Chaplin, Nathan Broadhead and Jack Taylor. Now, Liam Delap goes off for Ali Al-Hamadi. But the home team has made little headway and created few significant chances this half.
The visitors are 10 or so minutes away from a precious third away victory in 20 games which would move them up to 16th in the Premier League standings.
09:06 PM GMT
Half-time: Leicester 1 West Ham 0
Leicester go in a goal to the good despite a messy end to the half. Hermansen spills the ball and takes out James Justin as he leaps to gather a miscued Ings shot. He beats away a fierce Soler shot. The defender stays down as the whistle goes.
Still, new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will take that scoreline. Jamie Vardy has been sharp as a tack up front.
08:59 PM GMT
66 mins: Ipswich 0 Palace 1
Palace should probably be two up. Eze spots Mateta and puts him through on the left. Muric stutters and doesn’t come for the ball when, if he had been fast off his line, he would have got there first. No wonder defender Dara O’Shea is angry.
The Ipswich goalkeeper redeems himself moments later, saving the Frenchman’s shot with his left leg for a corner. Big let-off for the home team.
08:55 PM GMT
El Khannouss shows his class
Bilal El Khannouss has made a strong impression so far, and has the potential to become a cult hero at Leicester.
After joining in a £19m move from Genk over the summer, there has been a buzz of excitement around the Morocco international but limited first-team opportunities.
That pass for Jamie Vardy’s opening goal was sublime.
08:51 PM GMT
GOAL! Ipswich 0 Palace 1 - Mateta
The visitors have broken the deadlock on the break. Lerma pinged it to Eze who plays it in to Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Frenchman has a lot to do 35 yards out, but he shrugs off the challenge of Greaves and neatly dinks the ball over the onrushing Muric.
Classy, clinical finish from the Frenchman as Palace make the most of gaping spaces.
Jean-Philippe Mateta opens the scoring for @CPFC against Ipswich! 🦅🔥#PLonPrime #IPSCRY pic.twitter.com/jXJ5T3yYmq
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
08:45 PM GMT
28 mins: Leicester 1 West Ham 0
The home side are pushing their luck now. First, Soucek heads just wide, brushing the side netting, eliciting sarcastic jeers from Leicester fans as the visiting supporters erroneously cheer, thinking they’ve levelled it up.
Then, a cross-shot from Jarrod Bowen skitters across the six-yard box and rolls past the post.
08:44 PM GMT
Updated: Guehi risks FA ban for armband message
An update to our Marc Guehi story as the England international risks an FA ban by wearing his tweaked ‘Jesus Loves You’ armband tonight at Portman Road. Read all about it here.
08:38 PM GMT
20 mins: Leicester 1 West Ham 0
Mads Hermandsen sticks out a strong leg to deny a powerful shot from Jarrod Bowen, 15 yards out. Soumare was totally wrong-footed and the cultured England international could easily run onto the through-ball. Strong response from the visitors, but no equaliser yet.
08:35 PM GMT
Leicester have lift-off
08:33 PM GMT
The teams are coming back out at Ipswich
This will be fun for you to follow - two matches, one in the first half, one in the second. Bear with me, it could get a little confusing going back and forth.
08:31 PM GMT
Not enough calm or clinical finishing on show at Portman Road
It’s been much too frantic in the first half at Portman Road, especially when Ipswich have tried to force the issue. The two big chances have been Palace’s but Trevoh Chalobah headed wastefully over and Wes Burns got just enough on Ebe Eze’s shot to help Aro Muric make a big save.
08:29 PM GMT
12 mins: Leicester 1 West Ham 0
Danny Ings comes close to heading an equaliser. His effort came back off the post and the rebound wasn’t quite in the right place for Max Kilman sliding in. Leicester have the lead, but they’ll do well to keep it.
08:27 PM GMT
Vardy the ageless veteran
Jamie Vardy will be 38 next month, but remains utterly essential to Leicester and their survival hopes.
Van Nistelrooy and Vardy already have a bit of history: nine years ago the Leicester striker broke Van Nistelrooy’s record by scoring in 11 consecutive league matches.
After a lengthy Var check for offside, he’s scored the opening goal here.
08:23 PM GMT
Goal - Leicester 1 West Ham 0 (Vardy)
It’s a dream start for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side as Jamie Vardy scores the opener two minutes in, breaking the offside trap and slipping the ball beyond the goalkeeper, as he’s done so often for Leicester City. After a two-minute long wait for a VAR check, it was chalked up. Bilal El Khannouss with a finely-weighted ball through.
Jamie Vardy is ruled ONSIDE and Leicester have an opener!#PLonPrime #LEIWHU pic.twitter.com/ph5R6MqfmE
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
08:19 PM GMT
Half-time: Ipswich 0 Palace 0
Palace have had nine shots to Ipswich’s three, but only one apiece has been on target. The teams have cancelled one another out in the first half, though the south Londoners grew into the game and looked more creative after the first 20 minutes.
Neither will want a seventh draw of the Premier League season on their record, mind.
08:16 PM GMT
44 mins: Ipswich 0 Palace 0
Good save by Dean Henderson from a corner. Harry Clarke flicked it on target at the near post - straight into the crown jewels of the man between the sticks for Palace. Not sure they teach you that at goalkeeper camp. Three minutes of stoppage time added.
08:13 PM GMT
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s rapturous reception
While their fellow relegation battlers threaten to cancel one another out, we’re approaching kick-off over at the King Power Stadium. There is a trumpet salute and loud cheers around the arena for new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman has a warm embrace for West Ham counterpart Julen Lopetegui.
08:10 PM GMT
39 mins: Ipswich Town 0 Crystal Palace 0
Again, the visitors cut through the Ipswich defence. Mateta slides through Eze but he hits it into the arms of the diving Muric one-on-one. Wes Burns was terrier-like in his defending, snapping at his heels and tracking back. The England international should have done a little better there.
A BIG save from Arijanet Muric!
Eberechi Eze goes through on goal but is denied by the Ipswich goalkeeper! 🦅✋#PLonPrime #IPSCRY pic.twitter.com/aMcOoWXzhR— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 3, 2024
08:09 PM GMT
36 mins: Ipswich Town 0 Crystal Palace 0
Big chance for Palace. Mitchell finds Munoz in the box with his cross, but he is off-balance and slightly behind it. An easy block for the Ipswich defender on the line, as the ball bobbles up towards goal.
08:06 PM GMT
Kick-off in 10 minutes time at the King Power
Getting into gear ⚙️#LEIWHU
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 3, 2024
08:04 PM GMT
32 mins: Ipswich 0 Crystal Palace 0
Trevoh Chalobah is annoyed at himself as he heads over from the edge of the six-yard box from a Doucoure ball-in. Cajuste did just enough to get in his way in a crowded penalty area and prevent a clear header at goal. That’s arguably the best chance so far.
08:02 PM GMT
30 mins: Ipswich Town 0 Crystal Palace 0
Palace break at speed with Eberechi Eze. After his effort is blocked, the ball comes to Doucoure for an effort 25 yards out, but his shot cannons off Greaves and out for a corner. It’s more even now: the away team are getting on the ball more and showing their speed on the flanks.
Meanwhile, Dara O’Shea is bleeding from a head wound and the on-field medics tend to that. Wonder if he’ll end up looking like Terry Butcher.
07:59 PM GMT
The start of the Ruud era at Leicester City
07:57 PM GMT
Van Nistelrooy’s reinforcements
Bit of breaking news from Leicester - on the bench tonight will be Jelle ten Rouwelaar, who is the first addition to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s coaching staff.
Ten Rouwelaar was part of Erik ten Hag’s staff at Manchester United and remained at Old Trafford for van Nistelrooy’s four-match tenure.
The former goalkeeper will join initially as first-team coach, with further appointments to follow.
07:53 PM GMT
20 mins: Ipswich Town 0 Crystal Palace 0
Ipswich have already made seven fouls. Maxence Lacroix was down for a few minutes with a sore one, giving Oliver Glasner cause for concern, while Sarr and Eze also won free kicks.
The ref brandishes a yellow card as Dara O’Shea professionally takes out Ismaila Sarr before he can run into space on the right wing.
07:50 PM GMT
Lopetegui under pressure ahead of Leicester match
While much of the focus at King Power Stadium will be on Ruud van Nistelrooy, this is also a huge game for Julen Lopetegui.
After threatening to build momentum with an impressive away win at Newcastle last week, West Ham were thrashed by Arsenal on Saturday evening.
It leaves Lopetegui once again under severe pressure, with Sérgio Conceição emerging as a potential contender to replace him.
Lopetegui has secured just four league wins this season and, while West Ham are reluctant to make a change, defeat here will leave the Basque manager vulnerable once again.
07:47 PM GMT
Home fans show support for Morsy
Ipswich fans are singing Morsy’s name as the FA considers what to do with Guehi’s updated ‘Jesus loves you’ message on his captain’s armband. Would be a surprise if the governing body let him off a second time even though punishment for such an offence would be firmly in the ‘butterfly on a wheel’ category of retribution. Rules are rules however, even Rule A4.
07:42 PM GMT
11 mins: Ipswich Town 0 Crystal Palace 0
Ipswich Town have started the stronger, moving the ball about with energy. Liam Delap had a headed half-chance in the six-yard box which was blocked. Leif Davis was the creator after a marauding run down the wing.
07:37 PM GMT
Armband update
Palace captain Marc Guehi’s armband one is adorned with the written message ‘Jesus [heart emoji] you’. Sam Morsy is wearing the regular captain’s armband, not the Rainbow Laces version.
Now to the football...
07:31 PM GMT
Kick-off approaching at Portman Road
The teams are shaking hands and about to take off their black training tops. Methinks there will be a lot more focus and attention on the captain’s armbands to see what Morsy and Guehi have - or don’t have on there...
07:30 PM GMT
Line-ups for the 8.15pm kick off
Leicester City: Hermansen; Justin, Vestergaard, Coady, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Soumare, El Khannouss, Buonanotte, McAteer, Vardy (c)
Substitutes: Ward, Faes, Okoli, Mavidi, De Cordova-Reid, Ayew, Daka, Skipp, Thomas.
West Ham United: Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Mavrapanos, Kilman, Coufal; Soler, Soucek; Bowen, Kudus; Alvarez, Ings Substitutes: Areola, Summerville, Antonio, Paqueta, Fullkrug, Guilherme, Rodriguez, Emerson, Casey, Foderingham.
07:24 PM GMT
Ruud awakening for West Ham tonight?
A new era kicks off tonight for Leicester under their new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
There is not even a mention of Steve Cooper in the programme notes written by club owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.
Van Nistelrooy went four games unbeaten during his interim spell at Manchester United and how Leicester could do with a run like that now.
The 4-1 hammering at Brentford on Saturday was arguably their worst performance of a poor season, and Leicester need the Ruud factor to kick their campaign into life.
Team news of note here is that Belgium international Wout Faes drops to the bench. Being polite, that has been coming.
07:21 PM GMT
West Ham’s starting XI
Kudus is back in the starting XI 🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/sIOEaiRt0w
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 3, 2024
07:20 PM GMT
Leicester City’s line-up for the 8.15pm kick-off
Ruud's first City XI 🚨#LEIWHU pic.twitter.com/YVwbC7fu9g
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 3, 2024
07:17 PM GMT
Fifteen minutes to kick-off
07:12 PM GMT
Midweek masters lacking killer edge at Portman Road
Ipswich have not won at home in the Premier League since April 24 2002 when a Darren Bent strike was enough to beat Middlesbrough 1-0 but not stave off relegation.
On the other hand, Town have not lost a midweek league match anywhere since December 7 2021 when they went down 2-0 at Charlton in a League One fixture. This is their first of the season on their Premier League campaign for Kieran McKenna’s back-to-back promotees.
07:10 PM GMT
Marc Guehi’s father hits back at FA
In the rainbow armband controversy, the father of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has spoken out.
Church minister John Guehi told MailOnline: “The FA are happy for the crowd to sing God Save The King when England plays, which mentions God and religion. And they are happy to have the religious hymn Abide With Me during the cup final. And, yet, they have a go at my son for expressing his beliefs. Where is the sense in that? What exactly has he done wrong?”
You can read the rest of what he said here.
07:07 PM GMT
Oliver Glasner speaks to Amazon Prime Video
[On running to the corner to celebrate their last-gasp equaliser on Saturday with the players and subsequent yellow card]
“The whole game felt like we should score and take the lead, then all of a sudden we were 1-0 down. All the emotions came out, we can see the players. I didn’t know I’m still that quick, I’m surprised. If we score the winner today in the 95th minute and I get the next yellow card, I’m fine with it.
“We have too many draws and too few wins, we should have won more games. At the beginning, we struggled with many players without pre-season, late arrivals and four signings on deadline day. Then some injuries.
The performances improved step-by-step and then we failed to get more points. That is what we have to do in the next games, best to start today here at Ipswich. But we expect a very aggressive side playing really well at home, even if they didn’t win until now.”
“It’s not just the creativity; if we missed that, we wouldn’t create chances. We have chances in every single game. I think sometimes it’s just the finishing.”
06:57 PM GMT
A curious distinction
Have to say, it’s odd to have two Tuesday night Premier League games starting 45 minutes apart, one at 7.30pm, the other at 8.15pm.
It means the West Hams fans who journeyed up to the Midlands will be back in the early hours.
06:49 PM GMT
Four changes for McKenna’s Ipswich
Kieran McKenna has made four changes from the starting XI which lost 1-0 away to Nottingham Forest. Harry Clarke replaces Axel Tuanzebe at the back, who will be out for a large chunk of the season after coming off injured at the weekend.
Jacob Greaves comes in for Cameron Burgess at centre-back, while Szmodics and Chaplin are benched, replaced by Jack Clarke and Wes Burns.
For Palace, just the one switch - Cheick Doucoure in for Jefferson Lerma.
Ipswich Town: Muric, Harry Clarke, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis, Morsy, Cajuste, Jack Clarke, Burns, Hutchinson, Delap.
Subs: Walton, Phillips, Chaplin, Taylor, Taylor, Al Hamadi, Johnson, Townsend, Szmodics, Broadhead.
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Hughes, Doucoure, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta.
Subs: Turner, Ward, Lerma, Nketiah, Schlupp, Clyne, Richards, Devenney, Kporha.
06:40 PM GMT
Here’s the Crystal Palace starting XI
Your Palace at Portman Road 💪#CPFC // #IPSCRY
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 3, 2024
06:39 PM GMT
Ipswich Town’s line-up is out
Your Palace at Portman Road 💪#CPFC // #IPSCRY
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 3, 2024
06:34 PM GMT
Our man Jon sums up the armband controversy
The teams are out at Portman Road and both Sam Morsy and Marc Guehi are captaining their respective sides. Town skipper Morsy controversially refused to wear a Rainbow Laces multicoloured armband at Nottingham Forest on Saturday on religious grounds - he is a Muslim.
Guehi, a Christian, wore his in Palace’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle the same day but was reprimanded by the FA for writing ‘I love Jesus’ on it, which breaches rules on religious messaging.
06:32 PM GMT
Important night for relegation battlers amid armband acrimony
Good evening and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live, minute-by-minute Premier League clockwatch.
Two matches up tonight on a significant evening for teams fighting the drop. It is not too early in the season to call this a pair of six-pointers, though that may be a tad harsh on West Ham.
Firstly, in the 7.30pm kick-off, we have the “armband derby”, pitting one captain (Marc Guehi) who embellished his with “I love Jesus” against another (Sam Morsy) who refuses to wear one on the grounds of his religious beliefs. Cue: controversy and a likely talking-to from the FA.
The wearing of rainbow armbands and laces is all part of a campaign designed to promote inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community, run in conjunction with the Stonewall charity, between November 29 and December 5.
Ipswich Town, 19th in the table, could do with some divine inspiration at Portman Road as the only Premier League side waiting for a home victory. They also have failed to keep a clean sheet since a goalless draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in mid-September.
Palace (17th) have drawn three of their last four games and had the better of the chances at home to Newcastle United on Saturday, though it took a last-minute headed goal from Daniel Munoz to salvage a point.
Oliver Glasner’s side are only above the relegation zone by dint of superior goal difference. Daichi Kamada is still suspended following his red card against Fulham. The influential Eberechi Eze could have a more significant role to play after being substituted off at the 65 minute-mark at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Leicester City and West Ham were on the end of hidings at the weekend. The Londoners looked all at sea, shipping five first-half goals to Arsenal, while new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy had plenty to mull over as he watched from the stands as Brentford thrashed his team 4-1.
Fans of the 2015-16 champions will be hoping for the famous “new manager bounce”. A rare clean sheet would also be welcome; only Wolves have conceded more goals this season than Leicester. Van Nistelrooy is focused on shoring up their back line.
“On Sunday and today [Monday] it’s been a topic of discussion, how high is the line, what are the body positions, who is following who,” he said in yesterday’s press conference. “There’s a lot of detail in there. Today was the first time we had the whole group together and we managed to do some good unit work.”
It is likely the new manager will switch to a four-man defence, his preferred formulation while at the helm of PSV. Jannik Vestergaard is set to return to the starting line-up after being sidelined by Steve Cooper.
Meanwhile, 14th-placed West Ham United are six points above the drop zone. Mohammed Kudus is available for them again after a five-game suspension to offer his directness and drive in midfield. Kick-off is 8.15pm GMT.
Team news to come soon.