Premier League | Gameweek 28

Mar 8, 2025 at 3pm UK

Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace vs Ipswich

Match preview

Crystal Palace have been in fine form since the turn of the year, winning eight and drawing one of their last 11 games in all competitions, scoring two or more goals in seven of those games and keeping six clean sheets.

Oliver Glasner's side progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup last weekend after beating Millwall 3-1 on home soil, although the victory was marred by a serious injury to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was discharged from hospital with 25 stitches for a severe laceration to his left ear following a terrible high challenge from Lions goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who has been handed a six-match ban by the FA.

Before facing Fulham in the quarter-finals later this month, Palace will turn their attention back to the Premier League, where they currently sit 12th and six points outside the top 10 after winning five of their last seven top-flight matches.

Over the last 14 Premier League weeks, only Liverpool (33) and Arsenal (29) have collected more points than Crystal Palace (27 - W8 D3 L3) since 3 December, but only eight of their 27 points have come at Selhurst Park (W2 D2 L3).

Palace, however, will be looking to pick up maximum points on Saturday, having not lost any of their last 18 Premier League home games against teams in the relegation zone (W12 D6) since a 4-0 defeat to Sunderland in February 2017.

After successive Premier League defeats to Tottenham Hotspur (4-1) and Manchester United (3-2), Ipswich Town were knocked out of the FA Cup fifth round by Nottingham Forest on Monday, losing 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes at the City Ground.

While the Tractor Boys would have loved to have moved a step closer to Wembley, Kieran McKenna's side can now focus solely on their remaining 11 Premier League games and their fight to avoid immediate relegation to the Championship.

Ipswich are still searching for their first Premier League win of 2025, having drawn two, lost six and conceded at least twice in seven of those games since the turn of the year. The Tractor Boys have never failed to win their first nine league games in a calendar year.

Sitting 18th in the table and five points adrift of safety, Ipswich will be looking to close the gap by picking up valuable points in their next three league games against Palace, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, before taking on 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers in a potentially crucial clash next month.

Ipswich travel to Selhurst Park this weekend for their first league game since being thrashed 5-0 by Palace in the Championship in November 2012. They have not lost consecutive away league games to the Eagles since a run of three successive defeats between 1988 and 1994.

Recent Performance

Crystal Palace Premier League form:WLWLWW

Crystal Palace form (all competitions):WWLWWW

Ipswich Town Premier League form:LLLDLL

Ipswich Town form (all competitions):LWDLLL

Team News

Crystal Palace's manager, Glasner, has provided an optimistic update regarding Mateta. However, the striker will be absent from Saturday's game.

He has joined Chadi Riad (knee injury), Cheick Doucoure (knee injury), and Joel Ward (calf injury) in the treatment area. Additionally, Will Hughes has started a two - match suspension following his tenth booking of the season last week.

With Mateta sidelined, Eddie Nketiah is set to lead the attack. He is likely to be accompanied in the offensive line by Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr. Sarr scored a double in Palace's 4 - 1 home victory over Aston Villa in their most recent Premier League fixture.

Adam Wharton is expected to replace Hughes and team up with Jefferson Lerma in the centre - midfield. Meanwhile, Ben Chilwell will continue to compete with Tyrick Mitchell for a starting spot at left wing - back, while Daniel Munoz keeps his position on the opposite flank.

Regarding Ipswich, Sammie Szmodics will undergo ankle surgery and will be out for "an extended period." Axel Tuanzebe is also unavailable due to a "small muscle injury" and requires another operation on the same thumb that he nearly lost in a freak accident while doing the dishes earlier this season.

These two players join Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles injury), Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin (both with knee injuries), and Arijanet Muric (shoulder injury) in the treatment room. Saturday's game will be too soon for Omari Hutchinson and Julio Enciso (both knee injuries), though they are close to full recovery.

Cameron Burgess and Kalvin Phillips will have their calf problems evaluated before kick - off. Christian Walton has recovered from a groin injury and is available to rejoin the matchday squad. However, Alex Palmer is set to maintain his position as the starting goalkeeper.

Possible starting lineup

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Nketiah

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Johnson, O'Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Philogene, Taylor, Clarke; Delap