PREM: Watford v Crystal Palace preview

Watford v Crystal Palace preview

Sam Allardyce takes charge of Crystal Palace for the first time when they travel to Vicarage Road to take on Watford.

Palace appointed the former England boss as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal on Friday, one day after sacking Alan Pardew.

Pardew lost his job with Palace after just one win from their last 11 league matches and Allardyce has already said his first task will be to tighten up a defence that has leaked 32 goals in 17 Premier League matches this season.

Meanwhile, Watford will be looking to continue their solid home form having won four of their last six matches in front of their own fans.

Crystal Palace hope to have Mathieu Flamini available for the trip to Watford.

The France midfielder has trained this week after missing the 1-0 loss to Chelsea with a groin injury.

A number of players have nursed knocks, while long-term injured players James Tomkins, Connor Wickham, Bakary Sako, Loic Remy, Pape Souare and Steve Mandanda remain out.

Watford duo Sebastian Prodl and Stefano Okaka could be fit to take their places on the bench against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

Defender Prodl and striker Okaka, who are suffering from a dead leg and a hamstring injury respectively, have returned to light training and face fitness tests.

Defender Craig Cathcart returned to the bench for the defeat against Sunderland having recovered from a groin problem, but is unlikely to start.

Squads:

Watford: Gomes, Zuniga, Cathcart, Britos, Prodl, Holebas, Capoue, Behrami, Kaboul, Guedioura, Deeney, Amrabat, Okaka, Pantilimon, Watson, Janmaat, Kabasele, Ighalo, Sinclair, Success.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Speroni, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, Fryers, Lee, Ledley, Phillips, Winter, Husin, McArthur, Townsend, Zaha, Cabaye, Mutch, Puncheon, Benteke, Campbell, Flamini.