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It's the hope that kills you, right?

Even the most hopeful Palace fan must have been looking at train times to Oakwell a few months into the season. Just look at that goal difference alone!

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But, while defeat tonight would leave Palace only out of the bottom three by a point, the signs must be positive. Roy Hodgson may not have fully turned the ship around but he has at least bailed out the engine room.

Crystal Palace

• Palace are on an eight-match unbeaten run (W3, D5) - their longest in the top flight since a 12-match streak in October 1990.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Palace beat Arsenal 3-0 at Selhurst Park in April, with Andros Townsend opening the scoring.

Before that Palace hadn't beaten the Gunners since 1994.

And look at that - the man himself has just this moment scored against Osmanlispor in the cup...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun will be Everton's main January signing target.

Manager Sam Allardyce wants to make the 26-year-old his first major signing - in a deal worth around £25m - since succeeding Ronald Koeman.

Allardyce is also pondering a £25m move for Sevilla midfielder Steven Nzonzi, who played for him at Blackburn Rovers.

Tosun, who has been linked with Crystal Palace and Newcastle, helped Besiktas reach the Champions League last 16, where they will face Bayern Munich.

£75m for a centre-back? Sacked by Sheffield Wednesday, straight into the Premier League?Tony Pulis at Boro? George Weah, el presidente...?

It may be Christmas but we have not been short of talking points over the last few days...

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Have your say on the festive goings on by dropping us a line on 81111 (UK Only, names on please) or tweeting us at #bbcfootball.

Liverpool

It's more than likely that the biggest transfer move of the January transfer window has already been done.

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If you missed the news last night, Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk will join Liverpool when the transfer window re-opens on 1 January in a world record £75m deal.

The Netherlands international had been expected to join the Reds last summer after he handed in a transfer request.

But a move fell through when Liverpool apologised for making an alleged illegal approach for the 26-year-old.

The fee is the most ever paid for a defender - Manchester City paid £52m to Monaco for Benjamin Mendy in July.

Van Dijk said in a statement he was "delighted and honoured" to sign for the Merseyside club and accepted he had had a "difficult last few months" at St Mary's.

Big coat?

Hat?

Scarf?

Gloves?

Extra socks?

Thermals?

Work boots?

Flask?

Balaclava?

Err, Hand warming gel?

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Roy Hodgson is 70 years old and tonight is his 232nd Premier League match.

Arsene Wenger is 68 years old and tonight is his 810th Premier League match.

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It's the latest significant milestone on Wenger's track record as he moves level with Alex Ferguson at the top of the list of games in the top flight since 1992.

Will he mark it with a win?

Crisis? What crisis?

Crystal Palace could end tonight just six places behind Arsenal in the Premier League.

Image source, Reuters

It's probably premature to say so, but Roy Hodgson's recovery job at Selhurst Park is bordering on the miraculous, as well as highlighting just how few games the teams in the bottom half win.

Image source, Reuters

The bottom 10 teams in the Premier League have won a combined total of 10 out of their last 50 games.

Hodgson has won four since taking over with Palace pointless and goalless at the foot of the table.

Is win number five coming tonight?