Crystal Palace were fifth in the table - two points off the top four - when they drew at Bournemouth on Boxing Day. A poor start to 2016 means they started today 12th in the table, 15 points off the top four.  

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Matteo Darmian has just taken a right whack to his shoulder and the man coming on to replace him is the fantastically named Donald Love.

With Valentine's Day tomorrow, headline writers on Fleet Street must be bursting with anticipation of a Love winner.

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator

"This fixture is a real opportunity for one of these clubs to get back on track. Between them they have only managed one win in the last eight games.

"When Alan Pardew said last week's point at Swansea felt like a win, it was an indication of how relieved he was to halt their slide. He'll now be hoping with home advantage they can get back to winning ways.

"Having faced Chelsea and Spurs in quick succession, Watford may relish this capital meeting a little more.

"Their defeat at White Hart Lane when Troy Deeney came off the bench was a reminder of how important their captain's influence is. He'll look to ensure his team are still above Palace in the table."

Andrew Cole
Former Manchester United striker on Football Focus

"It is working. That is usually the case when teams change their manager. He has a great track record in Italy and is doing a great job so far. Sigurdsonn getting a few goals makes it easier."

A quick second for Fulham as Moussa Dembele gets his 12 goal of the season, heading in to double the visitors' lead.

There's been a goal at Loftus Road, where Ross  McCormack has given Fulham the lead after 34 minutes.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has just tweeted a snazzy graphic as he gets ready for today's game against Swansea. 

The Saints are looking to record a sixth consecutive clean sheet, which would edge them closer to their record in 2001 when they went seven games without conceding.

Alistair Mann
MOTD commentator

"Despite embarking on a timely four-match unbeaten run, Swansea are by no means clear of trouble.

"New boss Francesco Guidolin has started impressively but he may well feel that his team should be as many as four points better off, having given up leads in their last two matches, most frustratingly in the closing moments at West Brom.

"The weekend visitors have won four of their last five games and haven't conceded a goal in any of them - their progress up to seventh has been serene.

"A third successive win at the Liberty Stadium is their next target."

John Roder
Match of the Day commentator

"Last weekend's defeat at bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa was a massive blow to Norwich and their hopes of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

"The Canaries are on a dreadful run, and really need something from this match to arrest their slide. An early goal for the visitors could see the mood at Carrow Road turn dramatically.

"The Hammers' final season at Upton Park may end with FA Cup glory, and Dimitri Payet's new contract is hugely encouraging for them.

"But West Ham were poor when I saw them lose at Southampton last weekend. Yet another draw between these two teams is a distinct possibility."

Long way to go but a win for Sunderland would be a big boost to their survival hopes. As things stand, they are one point from safety.

Relegation rivals Norwich are in action at 15:00 GMT and could move out of the bottom three with a win against West Ham, who are eyeing a move into fifth.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Leicester City captain Matt Elliott: "Sunderland have got problems defensively. I don't think they can do it consistently and often enough. Bad habits can be hard to break. You can play well for 80 minutes and commit one lapse of concentration."

Kevin Kilbane
Ex-Everton and Republic of Ireland winger on Football Focus

"Jermain Defoe is the man to get the goals for Sunderland to stay in the Premier League.

"The draw at Anfield was a big result for Allardyce, it has given the side a lift. I think is three from five teams will go down and Sunderland need to get out of trouble."

Sunderland versus Man Utd is under way and you can get regular updates from the game here.

We'll dip in with goal updates but otherwise our focus is very much on the rest of the day's football action.

Andrew Cole
Former Manchester United striker on Football Focus

"I played for an attack minded manager, who wanted to score goals and always told us to go out and enjoy yourselves and entertain the crowd.

"We would score goals in the first or last minute. Louis van Gaal sets up his team differently, it is possession-based, keep the football. It works in Europe but the Premier League is different, it is about attacking and scoring goals."

Andrew Cole
Former Manchester United striker on Football Focus

"Paul Scholes is entitled to his opinion, he wants United to do well and at the present time they are not doing well enough for the football club.

"I think Scholes' comments should galvanise the players, make them play better. This is a club legend saying this, I think they should look at it as positive."

Louis van Gaal blamed Scholes for creating a negative atmosphere at the club with his criticism of the team.