Hello everyone and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of this afternoon's Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Stoke City at Selhurst Park.

Both teams will be keen to get points on the board ahead of some tricky looking games over the festive period. The hosts in particular will come into the match in good spirits after holding Tottenham Hotspur to a goalless draw last weekend and had Jason Puncheon's late strike been a few inches under the crossbar, they may have grabbed all three points.

Their opponents also enjoyed a great weekend, having claimed a 3-2 win over Arsenal. The Potters were ahead in 19 seconds and had chalked up a three-goal lead by half-time. Despite a late fightback from the Gunners, they held on to the win to end a run of three successive league defeats.

There's plenty more to discuss between now and kick off, but first let me bring you the team news from the Britannia which was announced just a few moments ago.

CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Speroni, Kelly, Hangeland, Dann, Ward, Jedinak, McArthur, Ledley, Bolasie, Zaha, Chamakh

STOKE CITY XI: Begovic, Bardsley, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters, Nzonzi, Cameron, Diouf, Bojan, Walters, Crouch

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Campbell, Hennessey, Thomas, Gayle, Bannan, Delaney, Puncheon

STOKE CITY SUBS: Butland, Huth, Whelan, Ireland, Arnautovic, Adam, Assaidi

So, there we have our lineups for this afternoon's match. We'll begin with the hosts, who have not made a single change from last weekend's game at Spurs. It means that Marouane Chamakh leads the line, with Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie providing the support down the flanks.

Meanwhile, Stoke have made just one change from last weekend's win over Arsenal. Marc Wilson comes into the defence in place of Marc Muniesa, who is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Peter Crouch plays as the lone striker, while Jonathan Walters continues, despite a knee problem.

I have already spoken about Palace's good result at White Hart Lane last weekend and Neil Warnock will be hoping that his side carry that form into today's match. They may not have seen a lot of the ball, but when they did they gave Spurs plenty lot of problems, with the likes of Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha showing some wonderful pieces of skill to thrill the fans.

That point was very much needed after a narrow defeat at home to Aston Villa a few days before. It has been quite a mixed bag of results over recent weeks for Palace, who have beaten Liverpool and drawn away to Swansea City, but they have also lost to Sunderland and surrendered a two-goal lead against fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion.

Having seen plenty of the Eagles in recent weeks, it's clear that they don't always get the results that they deserve. Perhaps if they had been more clinical against Spurs last week they would have won the game, while the same can be said of their 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford last month, where they squandered a couple of really decent chances to score.

It is that lack of threat in the final third that could end up costing them their Premier League status. They have only found the net once in their past three games and Neil Warnock has spoken of the need to bring in a striker, with Fraizer Campbell, Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh managing just six league goals between them.

Let's take a look at the visitors, who halted a three-game losing run by beating Arsenal last weekend. Peter Crouch scored the fastest goal of the season and Bojan Krkic and Jonathan Walters added two more before the break. Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey pulled a couple of goals back for the Gunners, but a late red card for Calum Chambers ended their hopes of a comeback.

It was an important result for them given that they had not won since their victory over Spurs before the recent international break. Stoke will argue that they were very unlucky to lose a couple of games over the last month, as a late goal from Glen Johnson subjected them to a 1-0 defeat at Liverpool, while a stunning injury-time save from David De Gea and a goal line clearance from Ashley Young stopped them earning a point against Manchester United.

At this present moment, Stoke are 13th in the league, but they sit just five points above the relegation zone. Mark Hughes will probably feel that getting something out of today's game is vital given that they are up against Chelsea next weekend, before travelling to Everton on Boxing Day.

Fans of the club would probably love to see another top half finish from their side, but just staying in the top flight must be the main priority. They may need to delve into the transfer market in January to beef up their squad, but quite a few of their summer signings have started to hit top form. One of those who has impressed in recent weeks is Bojan Krkic, who has reminded everyone of the talents that he displayed from his Barcelona days.

This is only the third meeting between these clubs in the Premier League. When they faced each other last August it was Stoke who came from behind to claim a 2-1 win. Palace got a measure of revenge in the reverse fixture though, as Jason Puncheon's strike gave them a 1-0 victory.

PREDICTION: There is not an awful lot in it between these two sides, who will both feel that three points is there for the taking. Confidence should be high based on last weekend's displays, but I am expecting a very tight match. It's too close to call, so I am going to sit on the fence and predict a 1-1 draw.

There's still eight minutes to go until kick off, so make sure you check out what the guys down at Sports Mole HQ think about today's match, with our video preview.

It really is a packed schdule of games this afternoon, with six 3pm kick offs taking place, before Arsenal take on Newcastle United this evening. Do remember that you can keep up to date with every kick from each match right here with us.

KICKOFF! We are underway at Selhurst Park!

There is not too much to report in the early stages of this game. It's been very scrappy and neither side has been able to string any passes together. We are also still waiting for the first shot on goal.

It really has been a slow start to proceedings in South London. There is still no dominant side appearing, with possession very quickly changing hands.

It is becoming very apparent that whoever wins the midfield battle will have the best chance of winning the match. It's becoming very congested in the centre of the pitch and this is certainly a game not for the faint-hearted.

First blood to the home side! Palace have the lead early on thanks to McArthur's debut goal for the club. Bolasie is the provider, as he cuts in from the left and whips in a great ball that McArthur meets to loop a header into the far corner.

What a response this is from Stoke, who were behind for barely two minutes! This time it's Bojan who shows his skill down the wing and the Spaniard does well to pick out Walters in the box. The forward sees his shot take a deflection, but luckily for the Potters it runs through to Crouch at the back post, who has the simple task of tapping the ball home from a couple of yards out.

This game has burst into life now and Stoke have a half-chance to get their second of the match when a long ball is played into the middle and drops to Walters. He swivels to get his shot away, but can't quite get enough power on the strike and it ends up going comfortably through to the keeper.

Bolasie was excellent at White Hart Lane last weekend and he's continued that form in the early stages of today's match. He just seems to breeze past his man down the left and on this occasion he whips a great cross into the middle, but Pieters does well to head it clear under pressure.

The game has just settled down slightly after that manic spell where each team found the net. You feel that it could just burst into life at any moment, with the wingers on each side looking very dangerous this afternoon.

Stoke have largely been in control of the possession at the midway stage of this first half, but it's Palace who look more lively when they break at pace. The home side's midfield are looking slightly stronger in the challenge and they will want to score while they are on top.

SAVE! McArthur almost grabs his second of the match when he is slid into the box by Bolasie, but his low drive towards the near post is blocked behind for a corner by Begovic.

It's a bit disjointed at the moment and there are plenty of passes from each side going astray. It's proving to be a very keenly contested and tough affair, but we have seen plenty of evidence that there are more goals to come in this game yet.

The Palace fans scream for a penalty when Zaha shows some wonderful skill down the right, before attempting to cross into the middle. The ball then appears to hit Pieters on the hand, but it was far too close to the defender for the referee to give anything and it would certainly have been a controversial call.

CHANCE! Bolasie shows his class again by getting past Bardsley, before he is fouled by the defender and wins a free kick in a decent crossing position. The Ivorian then whips the set piece into the box and it is headed across goal by Dann, but none of his teammates can apply a finishing touch, leaving Begovic to get down and gather low to right right.

Bolasie isn't the only winger having a decent game as Zaha wriggles his way in down the left. He then gets to the byline and drills a great ball into the box, but Begovic is there to turn the ball behind once again.

We are going to have two minutes of stoppage time.

That's all for the first half, where it is currently level at 1-1 between Crystal Palace and Stoke. The hosts took the lead through James McArthur's header, but the Potters quickly equalised thanks to Peter Crouch's back post tap in.

In the first half it was Stoke who saw more of the ball, with 58% of the possession. However, Palace had more attempts on goal, with six efforts compared to the three that the visitors managed.

Apart from that crazy spell in the game where we saw two goals inside of three minutes, there hasn't really been too much in the way of big goalscoring chances. The big positives from the half must be the Palace wingers, with Bolasie and Zaha looking very impressive.

Palace take the kick off and get the second half started!

The second half is yet to really spark into life, but Palace are looking quite dangerous in their opponents' half of the pitch. They will have the chance to get men forward though, after McArthur wins a free kick just outside the box.

The free kick is laid off to Jedinak who fires in a powerful drive, but it takes a huge deflection and loops behind. The hosts can't make anything count from the corner though, as Stoke clear with ease.

McArthur has been very involved in the final third and he almost has a chance when he latches onto a poor clearance just outside the box. He tries to get it onto his left foot for the shot, but Shawcross it there to make a great block and clear the danger.

SUBSTITUTION: Stoke have taken 10 minutes of the second half to make their first change, as Bojan heads off to be replaced by Arnautovic.

SAVE! The impressive McArthur gets into another good shooting position when he is laid the ball off just outside the box. He then fires in a low drive that looks as if it is heading into the bottom corner, but Begovic gets down brilliantly to palm the ball clear.

Arnautovic has looked lively since coming on and he is getting involved in all of Stoke's attacks. He works a chance too after showing some great skill on the edge of the box, before firing in a drive that deflects wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTION: Palace make their first change of the afternoon, with Puncheon replacing Zaha.

Speroni receives a knock to his head following a collision with Walters at a corner. The keeper appeared to be in some discomfort at first, but a quick rub to the head signals that he is more than fine to continue.

YELLOW CARD! Chamakh picks up the first yellow card of the match, after catching Bardsley in the box.

It has become increasingly scrappy and edgy as the second half has progressed. There are a number of poor challenges creeping into the match, with the flow of the game becoming severely disrupted.

Stoke are enjoying a really good spell at the moment and they are pinning the visitors right back inside their own half. They have won a succession of corners, but so far the Eagles are holding firm at the back.

It looks like Chamakh's afternoon is over, as the striker pulls up while chasing a long ball. The problem seems to be his hamstring and if that is gone then there is no chance of him playing on.

SUBSTITUTION: Chamakh is not able to continue and he heads off to receive treatment, with Gayle taking his spot up front.

As we enter the last 10 minutes, it is still very much in the balance, but neither side looks like winning this game. We have only seen five shots on target so far and in this second half the only save of note came when Begovic stopped McArthur's effort.

SUBSTITUTION: Palace make their third and final change of the match, with the goalscorer McArthur heading off to be replaced by Bannan.

Stoke are pumping plenty of long balls into the box as they try and force a winner, but the home side have shown great resilience at the back. Palace may lack a real clinical threat up front, but their defence could well keep them in the league by the end of the season.

YELLOW CARD! Dann is only the second Palace player booked this afternoon for hailing down Diouf.

There are going to be three minutes of stoppage time.

The final whistle blows at Selhurst Park and the game has ended on level terms. All of the action came inside the opening 13 minutes, where James McArthur and Peter Crouch traded quickfire goals. The second half proved to be much less entertaining, with barely a chance of note for either side.

I'm afraid that's all we've got time for here. There is plenty of live coverage to come throughout the weekend, including Arsenal's match against Newcastle that will be kicking off at half five. Until next time, goodbye!