Crystal Palace face a Southampton side who will be without right-back Tino Livramento in the Premier League at St Mary's this afternoon.

What's the latest?

The 19-year-old saw his impressive breakthrough season in the top flight cruelly cut short last weekend as he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the Saints' 2-2 draw at Brighton.

Livramento has been excellent for the south coast side this term having joined from Chelsea last summer for just £5m, with the youngster making 32 appearances across all competitions, 28 of those in the Premier League.

Not only will the right-back miss Palace's trip to Hampshire, but chances are that the Englishman won't play again until 2023. Therefore, it seems likely that Patrick Vieira's men will today face a Southampton defence with Romain Perraud at left-back and Kyle Walker-Peters at right-back.

Huge boost for Palace

With Crystal Palace and Southampton separated by just two points, this afternoon's clash on the south coast is of significant importance if both sides are serious about finishing in the top half of the table.

Ralph Hasenhuttl's men are 13th whilst Vieira's side are one place behind in 14th, albeit with a game in hand, which means that victory today would seriously boost the south Londoners' chances of a first top-ten finish since 2014/15.

However, that now looks a tricky task, with 10th-placed Leicester having played one match fewer whilst having four more points, so a win against the Saints would certainly help their chances of finishing in the top half.

Therefore, the absence of one of Hasenhuttl's regular starters will be a boost for Vieira.

Livramento has averaged 1.7 interceptions, 1.7 clearances and 1.9 tackles per game in the 2021/22 Premier League whilst completing 55% of his dribbles and winning 59% of his duels.

He will be a loss, although the 19-year-old's likely replacement Walker-Peters has also had a fine campaign for Southampton. The 25-year-old has made 33 appearances this season, scoring three goals and making his senior England debut alongside Tyrick Mitchell in March, and he looks set to revert to the right flank today.

However, with the inclusion of Perraud as a result of Livramento's injury, and him being in and out of the Southampton team in his first season in England, the Saints' left flank will be the area for Palace to exploit.

The absence of the precocious Livramento should be a huge boost for Vieira and the Eagles today as they seek to leave St Mary's with all three points.

AND in other news: Crystal Palace plot exciting bid for £9m-rated "sensation", it would leave Vieira thrilled