Steve McClaren
Ex-England manager on BBC Radio 5 live

Zaha is such an important player for Palace and Roy Hodgson has made him important. He is the focal point and that's what he needs. He is not stuck on the touchline and he has got free reign because Roy knows he is the man that can influence the game.

The home fans are whistling furiously as Joel Ward takes his time with a throw in. Stoke win the ball back and the home fans roar again. Now Badou Ndiaye barges over Andros Townsend to halt the Stoke momentum. This opening five minutes has been played almost exclusively in the middle third of the field.

Steve McClaren
Ex-England manager on BBC Radio 5 live

It's a fantastic atmosphere and I think the Palace fans are adding to that. Stoke are going direct and trying to get the ball into Peter Crouch and Palace have set up with two banks of four.

Image source, Reuters

You've lost me there, Phil.

With Peter Crouch up front, Jack Butland - wearing short sleeves in goal today - smashes a long ball up towards the former England striker.

Referee Martin Atkinson blows for a free-kick to Palace, however.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at the bet365 Stadium

The Stoke City anthem of "Delilah" being belted out at ear-splitting volume at the bet365 Stadium - Tom Jones at his finest.

Wonder do they ever play the equally marvellous live version by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band?

One for the oldies there.

There's a bit of scrappy head tennis to start the game before Ruben Loftus-Cheek catches Glen Johnson on the forehead with his boot in a high tackle. He's a little fortunate that was so early in the game.

The Stoke fans continue to encourage their team. This atmosphere is something.

Dion Dublin
Ex-Aston Villa striker on Football Focus

I'm surprised to see Stoke in their current position but I think their senior players haven’t stepped up. Ryan Shawcross hasn’t played as well as he has done and they have lacked goals.

And we're under way. Here's a reminder of the teams...

Stoke: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Zouma, Pieters; Shaqiri, Allen, Badou, Bauer; Crouch, Diouf.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, McArthur, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Loftus-Cheek, Townsend, Zaha.

"Why, why, why Delilah," bellow the home fans.

Paul Lambert is wandering nervously in his technical area with his arms folded. This is going to be tense.

Image source, Getty Images

Here come the players to a fine reception.

Stoke need all of those old 'Stoke is a tough place to go' cliches to be proven today. They won't have any blustery, cold conditions to help them though. Conditions are perfect.

Gary Flintoff
BBC Radio 5 live producer

Stoke are trying to crank up the atmosphere inside the stadium. There are over a hundred schoolchildren waving red and white chequered flags around the edge of the pitch. The PA system has also just been turned up a notch. For all that, there are a lot of nervous looking Stoke fans sat around me.

So we have had a couple of people asking why Stoke will be relegated today if they lose.

It is because of the fixtures the teams around them have remaining.

Swansea play Southampton in midweek so one of those teams will definitely go beyond 33 points which will be Stoke's maximum if they lose today.

"It is a must win game today. We need you to show your support," says the man pitchside with the microphone at the bet365 Stadium.

The Stoke fans respond with a roar but then things get a little more sedate DJ Otzi's 'classic' Hey Baby is played.

So Stoke pretty much have to win today. If they draw they could be relegated later this afternoon and if they lose they're definitely down.

The form book says they have no chance. Stoke haven't won in 12 games and Palace are unbeaten in their last four.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at the bet365 Stadium

Glorious sunshine and cloudless skies in the Potteries but dark clouds hang heavily over Stoke City as they attempt to navigate a path away from Premier League relegation.

Stoke and today's opponents Crystal Palace both changed managers to tackle a crisis, the latter acting after only four Premier League games under Frank de Boer.

Mark Hughes was sacked as Stoke boss following the FA Cup third round exit to League Two Coventry City in January..

Roy Hodgson has revitalised Palace while Paul Lambert has not been able to arrest Stoke's slide - he needs to start today.

Is Steve McClaren wearing three layers there?! How? I wanted to come to work today in shorts.

Gary Flintoff
BBC Radio 5 live producer

The BBC’s football correspondent John Murray and former England manager Steve McClaren are on duty at Stoke City v Crystal Palace this afternoon for 5 live Sport. You can also listen to the commentary here on the BBC Sport website and app.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I was worried for Swansea for a while – form is key at this point of the season and their form has slipped.

There was something more from them in the second half against Chelsea. I think they will be alright.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

The key for Southampton is they get to play against Swansea on Tuesday. Mark Hughes has got something going but I feel they’re fragile in defence.

I think Huddersfield will go down. They’ve got the worst goal difference apart from Stoke - they’ll get dragged in. I think Southampton will get out and Huddersfield will go in the bottom three.

Once again these are the permutations for this early game.

Stoke will be relegated if they lose to Crystal Palace.

If the Potters draw, they’re down if Swansea avoid defeat or Southampton win later today. Even if Stoke win, they’re down in the unlikely event that Southampton, Swansea, Huddersfield (who don’t play until Sunday) and West Ham all win.

A win for Stoke will relegate West Brom. The Baggies play later and will be relegated if they failed to beat Tottenham if their fate hasn't already been sealed.

The full ups and downs permutations from the Premier League, Football League, National League and Scotland can be found here.