- Bournemouth have failed to win five of their last seven home Premier League games 
- Crystal Palace have avoided defeat in seven of their last 11 top-flight matches 
- Recommended bet: Crystal Palace to win

Goals could be at a premium on Saturday when Bournemouth host Crystal Palace in a meeting of two clubs desperate to stay clear of the relegation places.

The Cherries will be glad to be back on the South Coast after suffering a fifth away league defeat of the campaign on Tuesday when Chelsea beat them 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

In his first Premier League game as permanent Bournemouth boss, Gary O'Neil bemoaned a slow start which has now left his side just three points above the dreaded drop zone.

Palace were reduced to nine men and beaten 3-0 by Fulham on Boxing Day and, although they stayed 11th in the standings, remain within striking distance of the Cherries.

Team news

Chris Mepham was pulled out of the Cherries' starting XI late on Tuesday because of illness, which forced O'Neil to change from a back four to a three-man defensive system with wing-backs.

Lloyd Kelly was reintroduced to the line-up after three-and-a-half-months on the sidelines, while Jack Stacey came in on the left and Jefferson Lerma stiffened up the midfield, with wide men Jaidon Anthony and Ryan Christie dropping down to the bench.

O'Neil will probably revert to the 4-4-2 he had in mind at Stamford Bridge for this game, but whether it is Mepham or Kelly that partners Marcos Senesi in defence remains to be seen.

Marcus Tavernier, once again, was absent from Bournemouth's matchday squad with O'Neil admitting to being unsure over when to expect the winger back from a hamstring injury.

Palace boss Patrick Vieira will be forced to change again because of the suspensions incurred by Tyrick Mitchell and James Tomkins, who both saw red against Fulham.

The Frenchman could promote Joel Ward from the bench to play at left-back or drop the naturally left-sided Jeffrey Schlupp into his back four to replace Mitchell.

The other enforced change is an obvious one, as Marc Guehi will return alongside Joachim Andersen after sitting out the Fulham game due to suspension.

Defender Nathan Ferguson and midfielder James McArthur will also not be involved again on Saturday.

The stats

Tavernier has scored two goals and assisted four more this season, all of which have come in his last three Premier League appearances for the Cherries.

The former Middlesbrough man is leading the way in terms of successful top-flight dribbles this season (30).

Bournemouth players have been caught offside 12 times this season, the lowest amount of any top-flight club.

Palace have suffered the most fouls as a team in the Premier League (202) with Wilfried Zaha the most-fouled individual (45).

Only Nottingham Forest (1) and West Ham (4) have scored fewer away goals this season than the Eagles (5).

Prediction

Despite all their obvious attacking talent, Palace have struggled to find the back of the net on the road this term. Vieira's side have been blanked in four of their last five away league assignments of which only one was against a top-half opponent.

Bournemouth have failed to score in half of their home Premier League games and each of their last three meetings with Palace, so the prospects for a goal-laden game at the Vitality Stadium are not good.

Tavernier's injury has denied the Cherries of their most penetrative player and there does not appear to be an obvious candidate within the ranks to replace his dribbling ability or goal creation.

The Eagles could therefore find a way to record only their second away win of the campaign, but they may have to grind out the result and under 1.5 goals in the match at 11/5 with LiveScore Bet appeals.

However, with Bournemouth having failed to win five of their last seven home Premier League games, the standout tip appears to be backing Palace for all three points at 31/20 with LiveScore Bet.