The final game of matchday 13 in the Premier League will be contested under the Selhurst Park floodlights as Crystal Palace play host to a struggling Sunderland side.
Sam Allardyce has failed to turn around his team's faltering fortunes during his short time in charge, with four points now the gap between the Black Cats and safety.
Crystal Palace
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The 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield prior to the two-week break may have made many sit up and take notice, but Palace have been going about their business in a quiet and efficient manner all campaign.
In fact, 19 points from their opening 12 games makes this the Eagles' best ever start to a Premier League season, lifting the club to within just two points of a European berth.
It is still far too soon to even consider a top-five finish, of course, yet basing things solely on the work achieved in South London since Alan Pardew took charge at the turn of the year, nothing should be completely ruled out.
Pardew has transformed his side into one of the most entertaining to watch in the division, as witnessed on Merseyside a couple of weeks ago when an unorthodox 4-2-4 formation proved enough to claim the win.
Prior to that triumph Palace also held Manchester United to a draw at Selhurst Park, but their overall record on home soil in recent times has not been the strongest.
While away from home they have lost just two of their six fixtures, it is a different matter in SE25 where only three of their last 10 outings have ended in success.
With the aid of summer signing Yohan Cabaye sitting in front of the defensive line, the Eagles have a player capable of both shutting out opposition sides - underlined by their impressive record at the back - while also creating attacks from deep.
Having put an end to their recent three-match winless run, Pardew's men now face back-to-back games against strugglers Sunderland and Newcastle United, knowing that they have a real chance to put some further points on the board.
Recent form in Premier League: WWLLDW
Recent form (all competitions): WLLLDW
Sunderland
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Worryingly for Sunderland supporters, if their annual bad start to the season was not enough to get the nerves jangling already, then a look at the festive fixture list certainly will.
With Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool to play over the coming month, Allardyce knows full well that his side must simply find some momentum heading into that tough run of games.
Striker Fabio Borini has said as much, in fact, admitting that the gruelling set of fixtures could take its toll on the Black Cats' tiring and disheartened players.
All in all, the North-East club have won just one of their last 15 Premier League games, drawing five and losing nine of those, which leaves them sitting above only Aston Villa in the drop zone.
It may seem as though this is a familiar position that Sunderland find themselves in, and in many ways it is, but only once before have they found themselves with fewer points at this point in the season.
Perhaps tellingly, that previous low point came in 2004-05 when Sunderland eventually went down after claiming just 15 points all term. You get the sense that will not be the case under the experienced eye of Allardyce, who was brought in with one clear task in mind - saving the club from relegation.
A 3-0 win over arch-rivals Newcastle United aside, Big Sam has yet to truly see his players pick up the desired results as they continue to lumber their way through games.
The latest international break will have given the coaching staff a chance to put their own spin on things, though, and with Sunderland's perilous situation now clear to see, those star names have another chance to start putting things right.
Recent form: LDLWLL
Team News
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Sunderland have not named an unchanged side in the Premier League since May 2014, so alterations can be expected to take place on Monday evening.
Lee Catermole is a big doubt due to a troublesome groin injury picked up at Everton a few weeks back, meaning that Jordi Gomez could be one of those to retain his place in midfield.
An impressive cameo display for Duncan Watmore in England Under-21s' win over their Switzerland counterparts last Monday may see him in contention for a starting role.
Palace boss Pardew has no concerns over his French stars, meanwhile, claiming that they will each be able to "perform at the best of their abilities".
That is the case for full-back Martin Kelly, too, who was around the Stade de France at the time of last week's coordinated terror attacks in Paris.
Pardew also confirmed in his pre-match press conference that every player involved in the win against Liverpool remains in contention, which could lead to an unchanged side.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Hennessey; Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Cabaye, McArthur; Puncheon, Sako, Bolasie
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Pantilimon; Yedlin, O'Shea, Brown, Jones; M'Vila, Gomez; Johnson, Borini, Lens; Fletcher
Head To Head
This fixture has provided some pretty mixed results down the years, and there is little to separate the sides overall, Sunderland winning 16 games while Palace have come out on top on 14 occasions.
In more recent times, there has been a 90th-minute goal scored in three of the last four Premier League games between the two sides, though these strikes have often had little effect on the eventual outcome.
This is a game that Steven Fletcher in particular will be looking forward to, having scored three times in his four matches against the Eagles.
We say: Crystal Palace 2-1 Sunderland
There is no denying that Sunderland are now in desperate need of points if they are to remain in touching distance of safety but, against a Palace side boosted by their recent win over Liverpool, the visitors' wait for another victory will go on.
Daniel Lewis
