7M - Premier League Preview: Crystal Palace vs West Ham - prediction, team news, lineups

Crystal Palace welcome West Ham United to Selhurst Park on Monday 20 April 2026 at 15:00 BST in a London derby carrying contrasting stakes for both sides. The Eagles sit 13th in the Premier League table with 42 points from 31 matches, while the Hammers occupy 17th place with 32 points, still navigating relegation concerns.

Palace enter the fixture in strong form, averaging 2.10 points per game across their last ten matches. Their defensive record stands out, conceding just 0.60 goals per match overall and an impressive 0.17 at home, where they have kept clean sheets in 83 percent of appearances. Recent results include a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United and a 3-0 Conference League win against Fiorentina, though they exited the European semi-finals 4-2 on aggregate.

West Ham arrive with momentum after a 4-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, featuring braces from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Taty Castellanos. The visitors average 1.40 points per game and have secured 1.50 points per away fixture, yet defensive frailties persist with an expected goals against figure of 1.89 suggesting vulnerability under pressure. They have won one of their last four Premier League matches and recently moved out of the relegation zone.

Attacking threats are clear on both sides. Jean-Philippe Mateta leads Palace's forward line with ten Premier League goals this season and recently scored twice off the bench. For West Ham, Jarrod Bowen has contributed eight league goals while Castellanos and Mavropanos provide additional firepower from midfield and defence.

Team news shows Palace managing several absences: Cheick Doucoure, Evann Guessand and Eddie Nketiah remain sidelined through injury, with Maxence Lacroix and Adam Wharton doubtful after the Fiorentina fixture. A predicted 3-4-3 setup could feature Henderson in goal, backed by Richards, Riad and Canvot, with Johnson, Strand Larsen and Pino leading the attack.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed minimal injury concerns, with only veteran goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski unavailable due to a back issue. The Hammers are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Hermansen starting, supported by Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi and Diouf, while Bowen, Fernandes and Summerville operate behind striker Castellanos.

Head-to-head history favours goals, with both teams scoring in 75 percent of recent meetings and over 2.5 goals occurring in 64 percent of encounters. Palace have won the last two fixtures against West Ham, including a 2-1 victory earlier this season.

Schedule pressure differs markedly: Palace, having concluded their European campaign, can focus solely on league positioning, while West Ham face critical fixtures in their survival battle. Fatigue may affect the home side after midweek European action, but their home defensive record provides a significant advantage.

Predicted score: Crystal Palace 2-1 West Ham