Good evening everyone! We've got a packed schedule of games taking place in the Premier League over the next couple of days and there should be no shortage of excitement. Our coverage here focuses on the events taking place at Selhurst Park, as Crystal Palace play host to Aston Villa.

Only goal difference separates the two teams in the bottom half of the table, but it is Palace who come into tonight's game in better form. In their first match after the recent international break, they came from behind to beat Liverpool and they followed that up by fighting back to earn a point at Swansea City.

Aston Villa may come into this match on a three-game unbeaten run, but they are without a victory in their last nine league games. They came close to earning their first win since September against Burnley at the weekend, but they were forced to settle for a draw after a late penalty from Danny Ings.

Pitchside at Selhurst Park before our 8pm match with #CPFC. #AVFC pic.twitter.com/VT8iGOlC6c — Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) December 2, 2014

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

ASTON VILLA XI: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho, Westwood, Cleverley, Cole, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Fryers, Puncheon, Campbell, Thomas, Bannan, Boateng

ASTON VILLA SUBS: Given, Herd, Richardson, Sanchez, N'Zogbia, Lowton, Grealish

TEAM NEWS: Palace have made a couple of changes to their side from the team that drew at Swansea. James McArthur and Wilfried Zaha are handed starts in place of Joe Ledley and Jason Puncheon. The headline news for Villa fans is the return of Christian Benteke from suspension, while Joe Cole keeps his place in the side after scoring at the weekend.

The hosts may be just a couple of points above the relegation zone, but they will be full of confidence after their recent displays. Four points from games against Liverpool and Swansea was a good return for Neil Warnock's side and the manager will hope they can keep up that form going into the busy festive period.

Of course it has not been the easiest of starts to the season for Palace, who lost Tony Pulis just a day before their opening fixture against Arsenal. Before that victory over Liverpool they had lost four out of five games, so they will be under no illusion as to how difficult this campaign will be for them.

A quick look at the table shows Palace in 14th place, with 13 points on the board. The league is so tight at the moment that they could move up to 12th with a win, or drop into the relegation zone by the end of the night, if a number of results go against them.

With the transfer window opening next month, you would expect Neil Warnock to be thinking about making some changes to his side. Their return of 18 goals is quite respectable, but having conceded 22 times, some defensive reinforcements may be the priority for the manager.

Palace will feel that it is the perfect time for them to face tonight's opponents. It really has been a miserable spell for Villa, who just can't seem to buy a win. Six defeats and three draws from their last nine games has been far from good enough and their position in the top flight is starting to look very precarious.

Aston Villa take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park tonight. They haven't won in 9 matches #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/SHHt2IboAr — Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) December 2, 2014

Although their long wait for a win goes on, Paul Lamberts side have improved in recent weeks. At the weekend they came within three minutes of beating Burnley, but conceded a late penalty and had to settle for a 1-1 draw. They had dominated the game and had plenty of chances to score before letting the points slip from their grasp.

The major Achilles' heel for Villa this season has been their woeful form in front of goal. They have scored just seven times in 13 games, which is quite easily the worst return in the league. Of course they have missed Christian Benteke and his return from suspension will provide a huge boost.

Lambert will be hoping that he can bring in some new faces next month, but more importantly he will face a battle to keep hold of some of the clubs best players. Fabian Delph and Ron Vlaar are both out of contract in the summer and if a bid comes in for them in January then the club will be forced into making a tough decision whether to accept a fee, or risk losing them for free.

Of the 39 previous meetings between the teams, Villa have come out on top 16 times, with Palace recording 10 wins. It was Palace who were victorious in both of their Premier League encounters last season, as the Eagles won 1-0 at home and away.

Another view from Selhurst Park tonight. #AVFC #CPFC pic.twitter.com/deV3KaoFHy

— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) December 2, 2014

PREDICTION: Okay, we're around 15 minutes from kick off so it's prediction time. This is a very close one to call and I am expecting a tight game. Palace will be buoyed by their recent results, while Villa have been unfortunate not to win either of their last two matches. For those reasons, I feel that it will end in a draw, with a 1-1 scoreline how I see this finishing.

Don't agree with me? Then why not check out what the guys at Sports Mole HQ think will happen in tonight's match, with our video preview.

Here's an interesting statistic about how Villa tend to score from inside the box, although I'm sure that their fans won't care how the ball goes in the back of the net tonight.

Aston Villa are the only team in the Premier League this season who are yet to score a goal from outside the area. pic.twitter.com/GLNxHCPYac

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 2, 2014

You get the feeling that this man will have a very important part to play in today's match and indeed in the rest of Villa's season.

WARM-UP PIC: @BentekeChris20 gearing up for his comeback. AVFC #CPFC pic.twitter.com/DaBQ0o0XsR — Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) December 2, 2014

The players have just made their way out onto the pitch and we are now around three minutes away from the start of tonight's match.

KICKOFF! We are underway at Selhurst Park!

The hosts have dominated the opening exchanges here and they are putting Villa under a heavy amount of pressure. Most of their attacks have come down the right, with Zaha giving Cissokho plenty of problems with his pace and trickery.

Guzan has just got away with a huge mistake for Villa. Bolasie curls in a strike from out wide that the keeper should save, but he spills it at the feet of Gayle, who sees his poked effort cleared off the line by Clark. Gayle was actually adjusted to have been in an offside position, but it was a very nervous moment from the visitors.

It really has been a great start by Palace and the crowd are in full voice at the moment. They also feel slightly aggrieved that they were not given a penalty when Zaha went down inside the box, but it would have been harsh on Villa.

SUBSTITUTION: This is a really sad moment for Cole who has barely lasted nine minutes on the pitch. It seemed as if he was feeling his hamstring and he has headed off, with Sanchez coming on to replace him.

Palace are still looking the better side and the visitors just can't deal with their attacking approach. At the moment every time that Lambert's side manage to get the ball clear, the hosts are coming straight back at them.

As much as Palace have dominated, they have still only had one shot on goal and Warnock will be keen for them to make their dominance in these early stages pay with a goal. Villa are yet to test Speroni and they have struggled to get Benteke on the ball.

Villa do manage to have their first effort on goal, but it is not one to remember from Sanchez. The midfielder latches onto a clearance around 25 yards from goal and looks to fire one into the top corner, but he gets the strike all wrong and blazes it high and wide.

CHANCE! This would have been some goal had it found the back of the net. Palace have looked threatening from set pieces and from their latest corner Jedinak meet's Ward's cross with a delightful flick, but he can't quite get enough power on the ball to beat Guzan.

Villa are seeing a lot of the ball at the moment, but they are not causing too many problems for the Palace defence. Agbonlahor and Benteke haven't been able to get into the game and use their pace, which is making it relatively easy for Warnock's men.

CHANCE! Benteke has hardly seen any of the ball, but he just needs a moment to make the difference. He comes close to breaking the deadlock, when Sanchez finds him on the edge of the box. The striker then turns smartly and bends a first-time effort looking for the top corner, but Speroni does well to tip his strike over the bar.

Palace's wingers have constantly beaten the Villa full backs for pace, but their final balls into the box just haven't been good enough. Zaha is the latest to burst past his man and whip in a cross, but again he overhits the ball.

How Villa have missed this man! Benteke is back from suspension with his first goal of the season. It's a fine strike, as he steals the ball from Dann in the midfield and charges towards goal. He then ends up getting to the edge of the box, before bending in a low strike that beats Speroni and finds the bottom corner.

SAVE! Palace have come out fighting since falling behind and they have put real pressure on the Villa backline. After a number of efforts are blocked, Zaha manages to pick out Bolasie, who drives in a low strike, but Guzan gets everything behind it to make the save.

Benteke has really grown into this game and his hold up play for Villa has been first class. With their defence coming under so much pressure, they need a man who can relieve the threat and he is certainly doing that at the moment.

Once again Palace come at the Villa defence with a number of players getting into the box, but their final ball lets them down. Zaha is the culprit once more, as he gets in behind down the right, before delivering a ball that goes out of play for a throw.

There are going to be two minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

That's it for the first half. The hosts have been well on top and really should be in front, but it's Villa who have the lead thanks to a fine goal from Christian Benteke.

© Getty Images

The possession stats disguise just how well Palace have played, as it is the visitors who have seen a massive 67% of the ball. However, the Eagles have had 10 attempts on goal, compared to four from Villa, but Lambert's side have made their shots count.

That goal for Benteke was his first since March and his 35th overall for Villa since joining the club in 2012. If he can stay fit, and not pick up any more suspensions, then Villa have a real chance of staying up and possibly finishing in the top half of the table, which is where their fans believe that they should be.

I wonder what Neil Warnock will be saying to his players at half time. They have been the better side and have had a number of chances to go ahead. Some changes may be made and it would not surprise me if the likes of Puncheon and Campbell came on shortly after the break.

We're nearly ready for the start of the second half, with the two teams are now back out on the pitch. The hosts have made a change at half time, as Campbell is now on the pitch, replacing Gayle.

The second half is now underway in South London.

The Eagles have started this half strongly and immediately they win a corner. Villa manage to clear it to the edge of the box where McArthur decides to hit it first time on the volley, but the midfielder puts the strike well wide.

CHANCE! It's Palace again who come close as Campbell does well on the far side to find Bolasie. The winger then delivers a teasing ball into the middle that is met by Chamakh, but the striker is under pressure from Clark and heads the ball wide.

Down the other end of the pitch the visitors have a very decent sight of goal. Westwood delivers a great free kick into the box that is only inches over the head of Benteke, before kindly going all the way through to the keeper.

Villa can't get out of their half at the moment and they keep swinging dangerous crosses into the box. The fans feel that they should be given a penalty when Chamakh battles for the ball in the area, before Zaha heads wide from Bolasie's cross.

YELLOW CARD! This is a wonderful piece of goalkeeping from Guzan. The keeper rushes off his line to clear the ball from Campbell, who had broken free of the defence. The striker then made contact with Guzan and he is booked by the referee for his late challenge.

For all of Palace's dominance, they haven't been able to create a really clear-cut goalscoring chance. They are getting very frustrated and every time one of their players is challenged inside the box their fans are calling for a penalty.

Lambert may be thinking about making some changes to his side to relive the pressure that they are coming under. They have struggled to keep hold of the ball and are having to defend wave after wave of Palace attacks. The manager will also be aware of what happened at the weekend, when they conceded in the final three minutes to draw against Burnley.

SAVE! Villa have hardly threatened in this second half, but they force Speroni into a save. Hutton's ball into the box is not dealt with by the Palcae defence and it drops kindly to Weimann. The Austrian takes a touch before firing in a low drive, but the keeper blocks the attempt with his feet.

The hosts feel that everything is going against them at the moment and they are aggrieved when McArthur goes to meet a cross and collides with Guzan. The decision correctly goes in favour of the away side, but the crowd make their feelings known.

Palace keep knocking at the door and they see further attempts to level the scores go to waste as Campbell blazes over the top from the edge of the box, before Bolasie cuts inside from the left and sees a strike deflect wide of the far post.

It just isn't happening for the hosts at the moment and they are still unable to make their relentless pressure count. Credit must go to the visitors, who have defended so well all evening and have put their bodies on the line to make crucial blocks time and time again.

YELLOW CARD! Bolasie is the second player to pick up a booking this evening following a tangle with Hutton.

YELLOW CARD! Aston Villa are shown their first caution of the night, with Clark booked after a clash of heads with Campbell.

We are into the last five minutes now and there has been no change in the pattern of the game. Palace are still pushing hard for a an eqauliser, but they seem bereft of any ideas. Villa have seen a bit more of the ball and they are holding it up well, thanks to some strong forward play from Benteke.

SUBSTITUTION: Palace are throwing everything at Villa now, with Puncheon coming on for Kelly.

SUBSTITUTION: There is also a change for Villa, who have brought on Richardson for Cleverley.

There are going to be four minutes of stoppage time.

YELLOW CARD! Weimann is booked for a handball. It is his fifth card of the season, so he will miss Villa's next game.

Palace are pumping balls into the box, but Villa are still holding strong and clearing everything that is coming their way. They are just one minute away from earning their first win in 10 Premier League games.

It's all over at Selhurst Park and Aston Villa have ended their long wait for a victory in the Premier League. Benteke's goal in the first half proved to be enough to give them all three points and it has moved them up to 12th in the table.

Palace were the better side and dominated for large periods, but they just lacked a cutting edge in the final third and struggled to seriously test Guzan. Their fans will have been hoping for better after their recent displays.

That just about does it for tonight's coverage. Don't forget that we will have analysis and player ratings of all the matches that took place in the Premier League this evening and we will be back for more live coverage tomorrow. Until then, goodbye!