View: Bilic to make one key change amid injury worry – West Brom predicted XI v Palace
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic is predicted to make one change to his starting line-up ahead of Sunday’s clash against Crystal Palace at The Hawthorns.
Conor Townsend is a doubt after injuring his knee in the win over Sheffield United last week [Express & Star] so could be replaced by Kieran Gibbs in the left-back slot.
Gibbs, 31, has not placed for the Baggies since his sending off at Everton on September 19 and has missed the last two matchday squads after testing positive for COVID-19.
It is likely that he’ll return to the fold this weekend and could be handed a chance to impress by Bilic if Townsend misses out.
It will be an unfortunate blow for the Baggies with Townsend in such good form but Gibbs is one of Albion’s most battle-hardened Premier League players and he’ll have a massive point to prove after he let his emotions get the better of him in the 5-2 defeat at Goodison Park.
Sam Johnstone has been in stunning form for West Brom as of late and is pretty much nailed-on to start in goals.
Ahead of him, Semi Ajayi, Branislav Ivanovic and Kyle Bartley are expected to start in the back-three with Darnell Furlong playing as the right-sided wing-back and Gibbs replacing Townsend on the left.
In the midfield, Jake Livermore might be available to return for Albion but Bilic’s central players performed well in the 1-0 win over Sheffield United last week.
Romaine Sawyers is therefore predicted to retain his deep-lying spot in the West Brom midfield with Conor Gallagher and Matheus Pereira in more advanced roles ahead of him.
Up front, it’s likely that Bilic will go with two forwards again with Karlan Grant and Callum Robinson starting to strike quite the partnership in the attack.
In other West Brom news, Kevin Phillips is surprised by this journalist’s update on a potential takeover at The Hawthorns.
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