Crystal Palace look set to stick with Oliver Glasner’s familiar 3-4-2-1 shape for Aston Villa’s visit to Selhurst Park on Wednesday night, January 7 (7:30pm GMT).
The big selection story is availability. Glasner has confirmed Nathaniel Clyne and Jefferson Lerma will miss the match, while Chris Richards returns to the matchday squad but is not expected to start. With Daniel Munoz still working his way back from injury, that leaves Palace light on the right side, so expect a solution that is more functional than flashy.
Latest Crystal Palace team news (who is in, who is out)
| Status | Players | What it means for the XI |
|---|---|---|
| Out (confirmed) | Nathaniel Clyne, Jefferson Lerma | Forces at least two changes from Newcastle |
| Back in squad | Chris Richards (bench expected) | Adds cover at center back |
| Still out | Daniel Munoz | Limits natural wing-back options |
What changes from the Newcastle lineup
Palace started at Newcastle with Henderson in goal, a back line featuring Lerma and Clyne, and the front three of Johnson, Pino, and Mateta. With Clyne and Lerma unavailable, the likeliest swaps are Kaden Rodney at wing-back and Jaydee Canvot in the back three.
| Position group | Started at Newcastle (Jan 4) | Expected vs Villa (Jan 7) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right side | Clyne, Lerma | Rodney, Canvot | Both starters are ruled out |
| Bench boost | Limited CB cover | Richards added to bench | Extra defensive insurance |
Predicted Crystal Palace XI vs Aston Villa
This is the most common projected setup based on Glasner’s team news and the most credible predicted XI reporting.
| Role | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Dean Henderson |
| RCB | Jaydee Canvot |
| CCB | Maxence Lacroix |
| LCB | Marc Guehi |
| RWB | Kaden Rodney |
| CM | Adam Wharton |
| CM | Will Hughes |
| LWB | Tyrick Mitchell |
| RAM | Brennan Johnson |
| LAM | Yeremy Pino |
| ST | Jean-Philippe Mateta |
Bench options to watch
Richards being available matters, even if he is only ready for a substitute appearance. If Palace want to protect Rodney late on, or if they need more ball progression, Glasner has a couple of plausible levers to pull.
| Situation | Likely option | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Protect a lead | Richards on for a defender | Adds aerial and defensive stability |
| Need more energy wide | Justin Devenny (used recently) | Fresh legs to help the wing-back zone |
| Chase the game | Attacking sub around Mateta | More bodies between the lines and in the box |
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