Crystal Palace vs West Ham United combined XI: Cabaye or Noble?

RM: Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)

After a failed big money move to Manchester United, Zaha has now found his feet again back at Crystal Palace. And if his Man of the Match performance against West Brom before the international break is anything to go by, the winger may be back to his best. On his day he’s arguably the best player in both these squads, meaning he had to start in this combined XI. With an impressive 75% shot accuracy and 77% pass accuracy, as well as creating 11 clear cut chances for team-mates this season, the stats certainly show that the Eagle is finding his wings once again.

CM: Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace)

One of the transfer coups of the summer was Pardew managing to re-sign his former Newcastle star man for a rumoured £12.8 million from Paris Saint-Germain. And the France international has repaid the favour by scoring three goals, setting up one and completing an impressive 247 passes, with an accuracy of 84%. The Palace number 7 will be a real threat to West Ham on the weekend, and the Frenchman, who can seemingly unlock any defence in world football with his passing, as well as returning a very impressive goal tally, could be the one to watch on Saturday.

CM: Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham)

We’ve opted for Kouyate, instead of skipper Mark Noble, to play alongside Cabaye in midfield. The Senegal international has a bit more flexibility in his game as he can operate as a defensive midfielder while also having the knack of getting a goal when allowed to roam forward. With three league strikes to his name this season and a real aerial threat in the box, he will be confident of  breaching a Palace defence high on confidence after two consecutive clean sheets.

LM: Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace)

This season Puncheon has operated in an attacking midfield role due to Yannick Bolasie and Zaha hogging the touchlines, but he will have to revert back to his usual left wing position in order to fit both himself and West Ham’s Dimitri Payet in the XI. Despite not scoring this season, he offers a better end product than Bolasie, who has so much skill and potential but doesn’t back it up with enough goals or assists. Meanwhile, Puncheon has created 17 chances already this season, setting up two goals.

AM: Dimitri Payet (West Ham)

Easily West Ham’s best player of the campaign so far, and what a signing! Scoring four in eight games from midfield, and looking like a bargain for just over £10 million. His stats are equally impressive, with a shot accuracy of 88%, pass accuracy of 81% and an incredible 32 chances created already, this game could be decided by either side’s French midfield maestros.

Striker…..