Crystal Palace have slim hopes of UEFA Europa League qualification but it's still mathematically possible when they face Burnley on Monday.

The Eagles were thrashed 4-0 by Premier League champions-elect, Liverpool. They will be more resilient on Monday as they look to continue their good form.

There are no points that separate the two sides with Palace in 10th and Burnley in 11th. Goal difference is the only factor that separates the two.

  • Palace's season so far

The Eagles had good reasons to rue the timing of the COVID-19 outbreak as well as teams like Liverpool but they have been good ever since the restart.

Exiting early in both domestic cup competitions has made Palace's life that much easier as they only have to focus on the league. Jordan Ayew and Zaha are in blistering form with Ayew now on nine goals in the league this season.

That's a great goal return for a team that doesn't score too many. The Eagles were in 11th place when they faced Bournemouth last week and they swept aside the South Coast team with ease.

The next game was a harder result to take as they went to Anfield and produced a poor performance in their heavy defeat. The South Londoners will want revenge and they will be determined to go for the European places in their first game at Selhurst Park since the restart.

  • Likely line-up against Burnley

The Eagles could be without two big names in the starting line-up with Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke facing a race against time to be fit.

The line-up will likely consist of the following: Vicente Guaita, Joel Ward, Scott Dann, Gary Cahill, Patrick Van Aanholt, Luka Milivojevic, Cheikhou Kouyate, James McArthur, Andros Townsend, Zaha and Ayew.

Zaha has a calf injury that he suffered in the warm-up against Liverpool which is being monitored but he could return for Monday and Benteke has a thigh injury so he is likely to miss out.

If Zaha and Benteke are not fit then Max Meyer and Ayew will start. Palace are likely to play a 4-3-3 formation.

The formation is likely to have Milivojevic, Kouyate and McArthur in a defensive midfield three.

The usual back four of Dann, Cahill, Van Aanholt and Ward will most likely start.

Guaita should return for the out-of-form Wayne Hennessey who was uninspiring against Liverpool.

  • What makes a successful season for the Eagles?

Europa League qualification is on the horizon for Roy Hodgson's men but they will need to win a large majority of their remaining games to stand a chance.

Most Palace fans will be realistic and they will suffice for a top-half finish. The optimistic ones will want them to go for Europe so that they can plan trips to Porto and the backends of Romania somewhere.

9th or higher are the main sights for Palace with Europa League being a bonus if achievable. Ayew will want to climb the top goalscorer list but there is one big objective that the Eagles need to focus on and that is Zaha's future.

There are the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Man city etc after the signature of Zaha and Palace have a big job on their hands in keeping the Ivorian. This summer will be important but Palace should be comforted in Zaha claiming that he would only leave the Eagles on their terms.

  • Key Players

Luka Milivojevic

The midfielder scored a delightful free-kick against Bournemouth to inspire a big win for the Eagles last week. His passing ability is very good when unchallenged and he is good at breaking up play and starting a counter-attack for Palace. He will need to be closely monitored by the likes of Ashley Westwood and Jack Cork.

Wilfried Zaha

Ayew would have been here but without Zaha, Ayew does not get half of the chances that he gets week in week out. Palace's star player will need about two or three players around him at all times to be nullified. He can change a game out of nothing. He is the biggest threat for the Eagles for sure.

  • 2019/20 end of season prediction

9th in the Premier League as they have a difficult run-in after Burnley. Europa League looks a tough task for the Eagles so they  may miss out. They have no targets for domestic competitions as they exited the FA Cup and Carabao Cup early to Colchester United and Derby County respectively. 

  • Remaining games

Mon 29 June Burnley (H) – 8pm, Amazon Prime TBC Leicester City (A), Chelsea (H), Aston Villa (A), Manchester United (H), Wolves (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H).

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