Mark Lawrenson thinks there is a serious gulf in quality between Crystal Palace and Newcastle, with the new loan players offering some hope.
The BBC Sport pundit and former Newcastle coach says that Kenedy and Slimani are better than what Newcastle already have – but that won't save them come May.
Despite currently only one place in the table and two points separating the two clubs, Mark Lawrenson thinks there is a massive gulf in quality when comparing the two squads.
This does look a pivotal match in many ways, as a win for Palace would see them move onto 29 points and five ahead of Newcastle, opening up a gap to the current bottom seven, or certainly the bottom three.
A win for Newcastle would be massive of course, especially after throwing away the victory against Burnley, a draw though would at least keep Newcastle creeping up and Palace still right in the middle of a relegation struggle.
Mark Lawrenson speaking to BBC Sport:
“Newcastle managed to make some signings at the end of the transfer window, including Leicester forward Islam Slimani and Chelsea winger Kenedy – who are both better than what they had.
“But you only have to look at the difference between Crystal Palace’s squad and what the Magpies have got to see the difference between the sides.
“Christian Benteke got the Eagles’ goal in their 1-1 draw with West Ham on Tuesday and I just wonder if he is going to go on a scoring streak now – he is the kind of confidence player who does that.
“Newcastle do not have a striker of his calibre to lead their line, or game-changers like Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend or, when he is fit, Jason Puncheon.
“That is why the Magpies are where they are, a point above the relegation zone.
“Palace are only one place above them but I think they will run out pretty comfortable winners.
“Prediction is Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 0.”