Crystal Palace vs Huddersfield Town. Carabao Cup Round 3.
Selhurst ParkAttendance6,607.
Monday 18 September 2017 17:17, UK
Mamadou Sakho could start for Crystal Palace as they host Huddersfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
The defender, who joined from Liverpool on Deadline Day, will bolster Roy Hodgson's defensive options after their poor start to the season.
Palace's only win and goals so far came in the second round, as they beat Sky Bet Championship side Ipswich 2-1. They now welcome Huddersfield, who beat them 3-0 at Selhurst Park on the opening day of the season.
Crystal Palace are set to start both Pape Souare and Sakho. Left-back Souare's return from a year out is particularly significant after he feared he may have to retire following a car crash that left him with a broken jaw, thigh and needing to be cut from his vehicle.
Sakho has not played since straining ankle ligaments - while on loan in April - but the central defender has since returned to the club on a permanent basis from Liverpool and recovered his fitness.
Huddersfield midfielder Jonathan Hogg could make his first start of the season. Hogg has been sidelined with an ankle injury and made his first appearance since helping the club win promotion as a late substitute in Saturday's home draw against Leicester.
Collin Quaner will play no part after sustaining a calf injury in training and fellow striker Steve Mounie has not recovered from a heel problem. Kasey Palmer (hamstring) is still out.
This will be the first meeting between these two sides in the League Cup, although they have already met this season, with Huddersfield winning 3-0 at Selhurst Park.
Palace have won 22 of their last 25 League Cup games at Selhurst Park (L3), including each of the last four.
Huddersfield are looking to reach the fourth round for the first time since 1999-00 when they beat Chelsea 1-0 at this stage.
The Terriers have lost each of their last four League Cup contests against Premier League opponents, however, they were in the second and third tiers at that time.
The Eagles have a similar record, losing each of their last three League Cup games against top-flight opponents, although they were a Premier League team themselves.
I don't quite know why Palace are favourites and I see they are actually odds-on with Sky Bet, which is baffling given their problems. What is Hodgson going to try here? Will he give a few other players a chance? As he didn't really change much on Saturday and the outcome was the same as under Frank de Boer.
What he needs to build is a defensive structure ahead of his next three league games, when they visit the two Manchester clubs before hosting Chelsea, then they need to work out how they can get Christian Benteke scoring.
He might think they need some organisation but I think this could be another negative distraction, but I have no sympathy for Palace at all because of how they behaved.
Huddersfield went there at the start of the season and got a very positive result and I see absolutely no reason why they can't do the same here, especially given David Wagner doesn't have a huge group to rotate.
Charlie predicts: 1-2 and Laurent Depoitre to score first (55/1 with Sky Bet)
