An early half-chance for the hosts as Andros Townsend crosses the ball deep from the left wing, but Christian Benteke is on his heels and cannot anticipate the delivery, which is easily taken by Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

And we are under way at Selhurst Park. Southampton, knowing a big win can take them into the top six, kick off.

Alex Scott
Arsenal Ladies & England right-back on Final Score

Crystal Palace's defending last week against Swansea was atrocious. Practising defending set-pieces in training is dull but it's a great test of players' mentalities. 

The goals they conceded last week suggests something is seriously wrong at Palace.

We have just had a minute's silence, which was perfectly observed, to mark the tragic events in Colombia this week where 71 people, including staff and the majority of players from Brazilian football team Chapecoense, died in a plane crash.

Image source, Reuters

The players have just walked out on to the pitch with the home fans blaring out their 'Glad All Over' anthem.

Whether the Eagles are winning, drawing or losing, Selhurst Park remains one of the best atmospheres in the Premier League with a near capacity crowd today.

The snappers are in position to get their shots of Alan Pardew. If the manager is nervous, he certainly does not look it.

How is your prediction ability?

Well, now you can find out and see if you can do better than Lawro and Tim Vine.

Click here to predict the score from Selhurst Park, but hurry you only have until kick-off to do so.

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender

The problem for Crystal Palace is the amount of goals they are conceding, because they are not struggling to score them. I'm surprised they are so poor at the back because in Scott Dann, Damien Delaney and James Tomkins they have some good defenders. I just wonder if the issue is with the Eagles midfield and whether they need a dedicated holding player.

Last week's crazy 5-4 defeat by Swansea has increased the pressure on Palace boss Alan Pardew and there is the usual talk around that situation about how, if he loses this game, he will lose his job. I hate that - if you don't think he is the right man for the job now, then that is not going to change if he wins on Saturday.

It is going to be hard for Palace. Southampton's results have just started to pick up, with a draw against Liverpool and a win over Everton and they are a solid team that does not give much away.

But I actually think the situation will bring a reaction out of the Eagles players. I am backing them to win, and I think they might keep a first clean sheet in 18 league games too.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Southampton

Each week Mark Lawrenson predicts the scores of the Premier League fixtures. This week he is up against comedian Tim Vine. For the rest of Lawro's predictions and Vine's thoughts on the game, click here.

Image source, Getty Images

Trevor Sinclair
Ex-Man City & West Ham winger on Football Focus

Crystal Palace have got to get back to basics. They have got to work on set pieces and defending, work on all the basics. If they do that they’ll get confidence, they’ll keep clean sheets and they can start playing football again.

Mark Scott
Match of the Day commentator

It's not just the damning statistics, but also Palace continuing to make the same mistakes that has put Alan Pardew's position under severe scrutiny., external

Contrary to reports, Pardew insists he hasn't been told this is must-win for him, but another defeat laden with defensive deficiencies - especially from set-pieces - would surely leave him in serious peril.

In contrast, Claude Puel has led Southampton to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, the brink of the Europa League knockout stage and within striking distance of the Premier League's top six.

His successful rotation points to a well-stocked squad, while Josh Sims has shown their conveyor belt of young talent continues to tick along nicely.

Given Saints' miserly defensive record, it's perhaps just as well for Pardew that it's not must-win.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's not forget Southampton in all this, and boss Claude Puel, in his first season in the Premier League, will be delighted with the start of his campaign that sees the Saints halfway up the table, in the EFL Cup semi-finals, and on the brink of reaching the knockout phases of the Europa League.

Let's hear from the man himself, courtesy of Southampton's Twitter feed.

BBC Sport app users may need to click on the below link.

As always we want your thoughts on all the action so tweet us using #bbcfootball and we will put the best messages on this page throughout the afternoon.

Palace fans, is Alan Pardew still the right man as manager?

Saints fans, how do you assess the season so far? Do Southampton have the squad to cope with their busy schedule?

Don't be shy, have your say.

So how do we describe Southampton in the Premier League this season?

Well, inconsistent, unpredictable, average would be a good start.

Halfway up the table, won four and lost four with five draws from 13 games. Only four teams have scored less than their 13 league goals, but only Chelsea and Tottenham have conceded fewer goals than the Saints.

But they have had some great moments this season. They have drawn away at champions Leicester and at Manchester City, won at Arsenal to move into the EFL Cup semi-finals and beaten Inter Milan at home in the Europa League.

This is the worrying situation facing Crystal Palace at the moment, and their team will drop into the bottom three today if they lose and Swansea win at Tottenham.

Three of the Eagles' next five games are against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, just to increase the pressure on Alan Pardew just that little bit more.

Chris Waddle
Ex-Tottenham and England winger

If you're conceding goals every week you're not going to win many football matches, and that's the case for Palace at the moment. 

Looking back at all those goals they conceded last week against Swansea, they were all basic errors. But that also means the should be straightforward to fix. 

However, at the moment, whenever the ball goes into the Crystal Palace box, Alan Pardew on the touchline must be having kittens.

So what does Pardew think about his side's form? Well, he admits they are in a "mini-crisis", with last week's 5-4 defeat by Swansea meaning the Eagles have lost six consecutive Premier League games.

WATCH MORE: Everyone's talking about: Palace lose nine-goal thriller to Swansea

The back page of today's Daily Express would have made tough reading for Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew.

The paper says he will be out of a job if he does not win today, and also that the Eagles players are not happy with the club's training methods. Difficult times for the man in charge.

Image source, Daily Express

Three changes for Crystal Palace from their insane 5-4 defeat by Swansea last weekend.

Andros Townsend replaces Connor Wickham, with the striker out for the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage during the game in Wales. Joe Ledley also comes in for Yohan Cabaye, who is not in the 18, while Damien Delaney plays for the first time since 5 November. 

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Tomkins, Delaney, Zaha, Ledley, McArthur, Puncheon, C Benteke, Townsend 

Image source, Opta

Southampton make seven changes to the side that won 2-0 at Arsenal in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday with captain Jose Fonte and top goalscorer Charlie Austin among those recalled.

Dusan Tadic remains out of action with a broken nose.

Southampton XI: Forster, Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Hojbjerg, Austin, Boufal.

Image source, Opta

Hello and welcome to BBC Sport's live text commentary from the Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Southampton.

There is no time to waste so let's get straight up to date with the team news from Selhurst Park.

Cast your mind back to 21 May. Crystal Palace were 10 minutes away from winning their first ever FA Cup and Eagles boss Alan Pardew was dancing for joy, closing in on the best moment of his career.

But a late goal from Manchester United's Juan Mata and an extra-time winner from Jesse Lingard ended Palace and Pardew's hopes and there has been precious little to dance about since.

Image source, Getty Images

The Eagles have lost six on the bounce and are only out of the bottom three on goal difference. The rumours are out that Pardew will be sacked if his club do not win today at home to Southampton.

Can Crystal Palace get Pardew dancing again?