Crystal Palace will host Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on Sunday, looking to bounce back from their disappointing run of form.
Crystal Palace are without a win in the last four matches in all competitions, and they will be desperate to get back to winning ways in the game vs Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on Sunday evening.
The hosts have a good team and a quality manager, and the home fans will demand a strong reaction from the players. It will be interesting to see if Crystal Palace can bounce back strongly and pick up all three points. On the other hand, Tottenham Hotspur are in poor form as well.
Spurs have picked up just one from their last six Premier League matches, and they have lost four times in that period. They are struggling with a lack of confidence and momentum. It remains to be seen whether they can bounce back here.
This will be a difficult outing for them away from home. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, who will be desperate to clinch all three points.
Team News & Tactics
Crystal Palace
Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad have been ruled out due to their long-term knee injuries. Ismaila Sarr is at AFCON, and Daichi Kamada (hamstring) and Daniel Munoz (knee) are both out. Meanwhile, Oliver Glasner has been sweating over the fitness of Chris Richards and Eddie Nketiah, with the duo facing late fitness tests to determine their availability.
Crystal Palace will shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation vs Tottenham Hotspur, with Dean Henderson taking his spot in goal. In the back three, Marc Guehi will start alongside Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards.
Nathaniel Clyne and Tyrick Mitchell will feature as the wing-backs. They will look to protect the central defenders and hit the opposition on the break. As for the midfield unit, Will Hughes and Adam Wharton will add defensive cover and control in the middle of the park.
Eddie Nketiah and Yeremy Pino will start as the attacking midfielders, and they will look to create opportunities for their teammates. Finally, Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead the line for Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Guehi, Lacroix, Richards; Clyne, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Nketiah, Pino; Mateta
Tottenham Hotspur
James Maddison and Yves Bissouma are unavailable due to long-term knee injuries. Dejan Kulusevski is also sidelined with a knee problem. Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie are struggling with knocks. Meanwhile, Pape Matar Sarr is away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons are suspended after being sent off against Liverpool last weekend.
Tottenham Hotspur will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Crystal Palace, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal. Pedro Porro and Djed Spence will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out defensively and contribute in the final third as well. Meanwhile, Kevin Danso will start alongside Micky van de Ven at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Joao Palhinha will add defensive cover and physicality to the side alongside Rodrigo Bentancur. They will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Lucas Bergvall will reprise the attacking midfield role, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack.
The Swede will look to open up opportunities for his teammates and find the back of the net. Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison will add pace, flair, and unpredictability from the flanks. Finally, Randal Kolo Muani will lead the line for Tottenham vs Crystal Palace this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kudus, Bergvall, Richarlison; Kolo Muani
Key Stats
Tottenham have conceded at least two goals in six of their last seven matches in the Premier League.
Tottenham have lost four of their last six Premier League matches.
Crystal Palace have lost three of their last six Premier League matches.
Crystal Palace did the Premier League double over Tottenham last season, as many victories as they’d managed in their previous 22 against Spurs (D3 L17). 15 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
When facing opponents starting the day above them in the table, Tottenham have only won one of their last 19 London derbies away from home in the Premier League (D6 L12), with that lone victory coming against Brentford in February this year (2-0).
Player to Watch
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Embed from Getty Images
The Crystal Palace striker is our key player to watch out for, and he could make a big difference for the home team in the final third. The Frenchman will look to find the back of the net and create opportunities for his teammates.
Tottenham have looked vulnerable at the back in recent weeks, and the French attacker could cause all sorts of problems for them. Mateta’s ability to hold up the ball and bring others into the play could add a new dimension to the Crystal Palace attack.
Meanwhile, Mateta has scored 23 goals across his last 31 Premier League starts at Selhurst Park, while he scored the game’s only goal in the corresponding fixture last season: a 1-0 win for Crystal Palace in October 2024. Tottenham will need to keep him quiet if they want to get something out of this game.
Prediction
Crystal Palace 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
This will be a difficult game for Tottenham, and given their current form, they will need to raise their performance levels massively to get something out of this contest. Crystal Palace are struggling as well, and they will look to bounce back. This is a golden opportunity for them to set things right at home.
Tottenham are in poor form, and Crystal Palace have the quality to take advantage of their vulnerability. Both teams will be playing for a victory here, and this is likely to be a close game. However, Crystal Palace have the quality to pick up a narrow victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Oliver Glasner and his charges.