Saturday 10 December 2016 14:05, UK
Crystal Palace will have midfielder Yohan Cabaye back from a one-match suspension for the Premier League trip to Hull.
Alan Pardew's side got a much-needed 3-0 victory over Southampton last week having lost their previous six games, while Hull City are themselves in desperate need of a win.
They lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough on Monday Night Football, and have won just once in their last 12 games.
Palace are three points ahead of Hull in 14th place in the Premier League, and have striker Christian Benteke back in form having scored four goals in his last four games.
Team news
Hull could have Shaun Maloney back in their squad for Crystal Palace's visit to the KCOM Stadium.
The 33-year-old midfielder has been out since mid-October due to a back problem but has been back in training ahead of a possible return for Mike Phelan's men.
Abel Hernandez (groin) is still out, as are the likes of Will Keane, Moses Odubajo and Allan McGregor, while striker Dieumerci Mbokani serves the second game of a three-match ban.
Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has undergone surgery on a knee injury and is set for around five weeks of recovery.
On-loan Chelsea striker Loic Remy continues his rehabilitation from a calf problem, while forward Connor Wickham (knee) and defender Pape Souare (broken thigh bone) are also long-term absentees.
Opta stats
Hull City beat Crystal Palace twice by a 2-0 scoreline in 2014/15, while the Eagles won both Premier League meetings in 2013/14 by a single goal each time.
Palace have failed to score more than once in each of their last seven visits to Hull in the league.
The Tigers haven't won three successive league games against Palace since 1985 (five consecutive victories).
Hull City won more points in their opening two Premier League games this season (6) than they have in their subsequent 12 games (5).
This will be Pardew's 300th Premier League game as a manager and will be the fifth English manager to reach this milestone after Harry Redknapp (641), Sam Allardyce (467), Steve Bruce (392) and Alan Curbishley (328).
Crystal Palace have made a league-high 542 long balls in the Premier League so far this season.
Benteke has been involved in an average of 17 aerial duels per game this season in the Premier League; more than any other player.
Benteke has the same tally of goals in his last 12 Premier League appearances as Hull City have scored in their last 12 Premier League games (7).
Jason Puncheon has created 15 goalscoring chances for Benteke in the Premier League this season; more than any other player for a single teammate.
Hull City have averaged just 11.9 touches in the opposition box per game so far this season; the lowest average in the big five European Leagues.
The Tigers have allowed their opponents a league-high 26 shots on goal following set-pieces this season in the Premier League.
These two clubs have conceded the most goals from set-pieces this season in the Premier League - Crystal Palace (13) and Hull City (12).
Merson's prediction
The win over Southampton was an eye-catching result considering the run they were on but Palace have good players. That was the worrying thing for them; they were a good team losing games in a hurry.
On the other hand, Hull don't really look like scoring and weren't great against Middlesbrough, which was an important fixture for them.
They have to attack Palace and that's what Pardew's side enjoy, they will relish the chance to counter.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)
Betting
Hull can be backed at 9/4 with Sky Bet to pick up their fourth win of the season when they play host to Crystal Palace. Palace bounced back from their disappointing defeat at Swansea to see off Southampton last weekend and are 5/4 favourites in the match market. The draw is a 23/10 chance, with the visitors on offer at 11/4 to prevail by exactly a single goal.
Hull against Crystal Palace features among this weekend's Super 6 games and you can play for free right here.
