Crystal Palace have a potentially season-defining run of fixtures ahead of them in the Premier League.
The Eagles will be keen to keep themselves firmly away from the relegation zone this campaign, given their recent struggles. Roy Hodgson has had an uphill battle to capture the imagination of the supporters so far, with protests in the stands hitting out at a lack of ambition on and off the pitch.
As poor results follow, with no cup competitions left to play for, attention must turn to Premier League survival. With the promoted teams struggling and points deductions for rivals, staying up this season will be a must for Crystal Palace.
With that said, here’s a look at their upcoming run of Premier League fixtures and how they compare to other bottom three candidates.
Crystal Palace fixtures
Brighton (A) – February 3
Next up for Crystal Palace is a tricky tie against Brighton and Hove Albion, considering the pressure of such a rivalry. The south coast outfit have continued to punch above their weight in recent years, with European qualification in their sights, but a poor run of form has seen them pick up just three wins in their last 16. The reverse fixture ended 1-1 in December.
Chelsea (H) – February 12
A London derby is on the cards afterwards in a Monday night clash against Chelsea at Selhurst Park. The Blues have struggled under their new ownership, but a recent uptick in form has them eyeing Europe once more. The reverse fixture ended 2-1 in December.
Everton (A) – February 19
The start of a huge few games comes away at Everton, with the Goodison Park outfit looking to get themselves out of relegation troubles. The Toffees have already faced a points deduction and are threatened with the potential for more, making every point valuable. The reverse fixture ended 3-2 to Everton.
Burnley (H) – February 24
The next massive clash in the battle at the bottom comes against Burnley, with Vincent Kompany finding some struggles in his side’s return to the top flight. The reverse fixture ended in a 2-0 win to Crystal Palace in November.
Tottenham (A) – March 2
Ending this run of five fixtures is a trip away to Tottenham, who have been impressive under new boss Ange Postecoglou. Spurs could have plenty of their key players back from injury for this match, making for a tough clash. The reverse fixture ended 2-1 to Tottenham in October.
Average league position of Crystal Palace opponents: 11th
Nottingham Forest fixtures
Bournemouth (A)
Newcastle (H)
West Ham (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Liverpool (H)
Average league position of Nottingham Forest opponents: 7th
Everton fixtures
Tottenham (H)
Man City (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Brighton (A)
West Ham (H)
Average league position of Everton opponents: 7th
Luton Town fixtures
Newcastle United (A)
Sheffield United (H)
Man United (H)
Aston Villa (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Average league position of Luton opponents: 11th
Burnley fixtures
Fulham (H)
Liverpool (A)
Arsenal (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Average league position of Burnley opponents: 9th
Sheffield United fixtures
Aston Villa (H)
Luton Town (A)
Brighton (H)
Wolves (A)
Arsenal (H)
Average league position of Sheffield United opponents: 9th
