The Eagles had the same home advantage last time out when they fell to a late Neal Maupay equaliser in their fierce rivalry with Brighton and Hove Albion.
The result against Graham Potter’s Seagulls wasn’t necessarily a bad one, but given the bad blood over the years between the two sides, Maupay’s dramatic, last gasp goal no doubt left a sour taste in the mouths of the Palace fans and made the result feel more like a defeat.
Patrick Vieira will be keen for the South London crowd to once again play a role in getting behind the team and giving them the edge they’ll need to get a positive result on the weekend.
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Frustrating start to the season for Foxes
Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester side have had a slow start to the season, especially given the calibre of opposition and the fact they have only faced one ‘top six’ side so far this term - a 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City.
As we head into the weekend fixtures Leicester are sat in 13th with Palace only one point behind in 15th, reflecting the inconsistent starts both sides have had. Although, given the context, the Eagles will surely be the happier of the two.
The Foxes only Premier League victories so far this campaign have been over a struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers and Norwich City - both of which are currently sat behind Rodgers’ side in the table, with the Canaries rock bottom and yet to register a single point.
Meanwhile, Palace don’t have to think too far back for inspiration, as they will be fully aware of the quality and ability they possess to beat a bigger side, having brushed aside, at the time, a high-flying Spurs outfit only a couple of weekends ago, meaning another ‘scalp’ could very much be on the cards this weekend.
Vieira will no doubt be pleased to be playing the Midlands-based club at this time, with the Foxes’ fragility and vulnerability being brutally exposed midweek. They suffered a nightmare result in the group stages of the Europa League in a shock 1-0 away defeat, in Poland, to Legia Warsaw, something Palace will surely be looking to capitalise on.
Despite this, the South London club won’t be foolish enough to consider their opposition this weekend as a favourable fixture or any easy game.
Leicester have shown immense desire, spirit, courage and quality against all odds in the last five years, doing the impossible to lift the Premier League. They then lifted the FA Cup last season, and most recently, the Community Shield. Rodgers will view his side's trip to the capital as the perfect opportunity to silence critics and really get their season started.
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Team News
Crystal Palace will be pleased to have close to a clean health bill, with only two players out through injury, and therefore, unavailable for this weekend.
Nathan Ferguson's Achilles injury has halted his Palace comeback, and this has meant the former West Bromwich Albion defender is yet to really get going in South London. The Eagles will also be experiencing the significant absence of key player Eberechi Eze, who is expected to return to action late next month.
Meanwhile, the away side are enduring injuries to three players; Namaplys Mendy, who is out with a groin issue, star defender Wesley Fofana, who was struck with a devastating Fibula Fracture in the preseason and thirdly, James Justin, who has been an absentee for some time now, with a season-ending Cruciate Ligament Injury. All three will be big misses for the Foxes this weekend.
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How to watch
The game is scheduled for a 2 PM GMT kickoff and will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event.
If you are unable to watch the game live, your best bet for in-game analysis and updates is right here on VAVEL UK.