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Crystal Palace clinched their maiden win of the season in a tightly contested 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s decisive first-half goal put Palace ahead, and with an organised, pressing approach, Oliver Glasner’s team kept Spurs at bay. This result exposed Spurs’ struggles in possession and forward creativity, leaving them to face pressing questions about depth and discipline.

First-half frustration and Palace’s aggressive breakthrough

The opening stages of the match saw both sides tentatively probing each other’s weaknesses. Tottenham held possession for spells but lacked a cutting edge, managing just two successful dribbles past Palace’s defensive line in the first half.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s intense pressing forced Spurs into repeated errors. Tottenham’s defensive players lost possession 42 times in the first 45 minutes alone, with Pedro Porro accounting for 20 of those moments.

Palace capitalised on one such misstep in the 31st minute. Under pressure from Daniel Munoz, Micky van de Ven lost possession, allowing Munoz to tee up Eberechi Eze. Eze’s flick found an unmarked Mateta, who slotted the ball past Vicario with ease.

The goal underscored Tottenham’s struggles against Palace’s relentless press, as they continued to turn over the ball deep in their half. At the interval, Palace’s 1-0 lead felt well-deserved, with Spurs’ xG stuck at 0.43, reflecting their lack of clear-cut chances.

Tottenham’s lethargic second half and Palace’s defence

Entering the second half, Tottenham aimed to pull themselves back into the game but continued to falter in execution. Despite a greater focus on attack, Spurs managed only one successful dribble in the attacking half throughout the second period, failing to unsettle Palace’s well-organised defensive line.

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Ange Postecoglou brought on Richarlison and Timo Werner to inject urgency into Tottenham’s play, yet they struggled to break through.

Palace’s impressive midfield duo of Eze and Will Hughes orchestrated dangerous counter-attacks, pinning Tottenham back and ensuring Palace remained a threat. The Eagles’ tenacity was underscored by more than 30 successful tackles over the course of the game, constantly disrupting Tottenham’s rhythm.

Tottenham’s fullbacks, Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro, accounted for a total of 48 turnovers, revealing just how thoroughly Palace’s pressing strategy took them out of the game. The high number of lost possessions by the Spurs backline led to frequent tracking back, exposing Tottenham’s lack of width in both defence and attack.

Key takeaways: Defensive depth and attacking limitations

For Crystal Palace, this victory marks a turning point, providing a needed confidence boost as they rise from the bottom of the table. Glasner’s side executed their pressing game perfectly, punishing Spurs’ defensive lapses and maintaining disciplined shape in the final third.

Tottenham, meanwhile, must quickly address their shortcomings, with a challenging League Cup tie against Manchester City looming. The absence of Son Heung-min’s leadership and creativity was glaring, as Spurs seemed devoid of direction in the final third.

After another disappointing defeat on the road this afternoon, Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario spoke to the press about what he believed was missing from his team as they struggled to deal with Crystal Palace.

Spurs need more fight

Spurs went into the game on the back of two wins in the last week, and were presumably full of confidence, especially going up against a Crystal Palace side who had failed to win all season.

Ange Postecoglou‘s side failed to control the game from start to finish, and were punished by a Jean-Philippe Mateta goal in the first half.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Vicario touched on what he felt the team were lacking on the day and how disappointing it is to fall to a defeat like that.

He said: “They fight and I think we lacked that today. We are disappointed because we have to fight. We play good football but maybe sometimes we lack the desire to fight. They show a real desire to fight for something.

“I just want to focus on us and what we didn’t do as a team. I think we lacked a bit of energy and to be better than them. We have to take this personally and it has to hurt us a lot. Football gives us an opportunity again and we have to be ready for the cup.”

Heung-min Son absence not the issue

Spurs were, of course, without their captain, Heung-min Son today, but Vicario has insisted that the skipper’s absence had nothing to do with the result.

He added: “He is the captain but we have a big squad and we have to deal with that. We have to be able to win games without Son. We lacked in something, not in football, but attitude and fight.”

A really weak performance

Tottenham were second best in every single area against Palace today, and it was really disappointing to watch. It looked like every player lacked the energy and the drive to make anything happen, and we’ve fallen to another really poor defeat away from home again.

According to a report, Tottenham Hotspur have already made a decision on the future of Timo Werner ahead of the January transfer window.

Experienced Spurs star has struggled

Timo Werner had a golden opportunity to stake his claim for a place in Ange Postecoglou’s first-choice eleven in light of the recent injuries to Heung-min Son and Wilson Odobert.

However, the German did not manage to make the most of his chances, being let down once again by his lack of composure in front of goal.

Now that Tottenham’s key men are nearly fit, the 28-year-old’s chances of getting regular game time over the coming weeks appear slim.

Tottenham make Timo Werner transfer decision

Kicker have now claimed that Spurs would be willing to prematurely end Werner’s loan spell at the club when the transfer window opens in January.

The report says that Postecoglou’s men have not been satisfied with the performances that the on-loan RB Leipzig man has delivered this season.

It is alleged that if the German international wants to call time on his chapter at Tottenham, the Premier League side would not put any obstacles in his way.

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Contradictory claim on Werner’s future

However, this latest report contradicts the information that was carried on Wednesday by SportBILD, who explained that Werner is expected to see out the remainder of his loan spell at Spurs.

In fact, the publication added that if Leipzig were still hoping that Tottenham would take up the option to buy the former Chelsea man permanently next summer.

If the Lilywhites fail to do so, the Bundesliga club will have to look for another buyer as Werner’s deal at the Red Bull Arena runs out in 2026.

Former Leeds United midfielder Michael Bridges claims that one Tottenham star looks a lot leaner and fitter than he did last season.

Tottenham attacker has gone to the next level

Dejan Kulusevski is now finally starting to fulfil the potential he has always had, with the Swede taking his game to the next level since being moved into the attacking midfield role.

The 24-year-old is regularly making the difference in the final third for Spurs with goals and assists, while opposition sides are also struggling to cope with his running power in the middle of the park.

The former Juventus man is in a league of his own when it comes to distance covered per 90 minutes, averaging nearly half a kilometre more than the man in second place, Tomas Soucek (BBC Sport).

Michael Bridges has spotted a difference

Bridges has admitted that his main gripe with Kulusevski in the past was his lack of consistency, which the Tottenham man has now addressed. The pundit put the attacker’s success this season down to his improved fitness.

The 46-year-old said on the Optus Sport Football Podcast: “My biggest criticism has been of Kulusevski that he hasn’t been consistent. He hasn’t looked as fit as what I think he can do in the past seasons. I will say under Ange, he looks as lean as I’ve ever seen him.

“Like you say, the new position seems to suit him and he’s playing the style of football that he is absolutely relishing. So I think it’s a match made in heaven with the way Ange has got him playing and what he’s doing. And Ange has given him the freedom.”

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Dejan Kulusevski admits change to the training regiment

While Kulusevski has always been one of the fittest players in the Premier League, he seems to have taken his fitness up another notch or two this season.

Following Tottenham’s win over West Ham, the Sweden international admitted that he made changes to the way he trained in the summer, which has helped him get the best out of his body.

Kulusevski told SpursPlay: “Every season I just get better and better because I understand what I am doing wrong and I’m understanding things to improve.

“This was my plan in the summer, to work on the things I want to work on so I changed my mindset and I even started training even more than before and this is only the beginning. I know I can play much better than this so I just want to keep on improving and become one of the best players in the world.”

When the host Ben Haines asked if he meant physically, the Tottenham man responded: “Yeah, absolutely. I changed my training routine and that’s why you can’t understand everything when you’re young. Every year you get experience and you improve on every side of the football.”

Micky van de Ven is in awe of what one of his newest Tottenham teammates does in every single game.

Newcomer has settled in seamlessly

When a striker who cost £65m scores just two goals in his first six Premier League matches, one would expect many to express doubts over whether he was the right buy.

However, Dominic Solanke has been universally hailed as an astute signing, such has been his overall impact since arriving at Tottenham.

The 26-year-old fits Ange Postecoglou’s system like a hand-to-glove, regularly doing some excellent work on and off the ball and proving a nightmare to handle for opposition defences.

Micky van de Ven in disbelief at what Dominic Solanke does

Perhaps Solanke’s best attribute is his engine, with the striker tirelessly pressing with intensity through the game, giving the goalkeeper and opposition centre-backs no time to breathe.

Van de Ven admitted that he struggles to understand how the centre-forward is able to keep sprinting the whole game.

When asked about the impact that Tottenham’s record signing has made, the defender said (via Football.London): “Dom has been unbelievable since he joined, he is working so hard. Even as a striker, you see offensive, defensive – he keeps running the whole game.

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“I am watching him and thinking ‘phwoar, how are you even doing this, keeping sprinting over and over again’. Also, he is getting his goals and his assists and hopefully, he can keep going like this.”

Solanke showing what Spurs were missing

The physical presence that Solanke offers upfront and the ability he has to drop deep to get on the ball in different areas of the pitch has been a huge plus for Tottenham.

One Spanish news outlet believes that Tottenham’s recent social media post is intended as a transfer message to a La Liga side.

Sevilla want to sign Spurs youngster

According to recent reports from Spain, Sevilla are targeting the loan signing of one of Tottenham’s most promising young players.

The player on their radar is Archie Gray, with Mucho Deporte revealing a few days ago that García Pimienta’s men are exploring if Spurs would be willing to loan out the 18-year-old in January.

The report explained that the deal is being pursued by Sevilla’s sporting director Victor Orta, who has a relationship with Gray from their time together at Leeds United.

Have Spurs sent a cryptic transfer message?

However, Estadio Deportivo believe that one of Tottenham’s latest social media posts may have been intended as a message to Sevilla.

They point out that the Lilywhites recently posted a picture of Gray in training, along with the caption: “Our Archie”.

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The publication sees this post as evidence that Gray is very much part of Tottenham’s plans and that the North London club have no intention of loaning out the teenager.

Archie Gray will have an important role at Spurs

While Gray might not have got as many minutes as he would have wanted so far this season, there is no doubt that he will get plenty of game time over the coming weeks and months as Tottenham’s schedule gets even busier.

One Premier League side are not overly worried about Tottenham Hotspur’s reported interest in their star man ahead of the January transfer window.

Tottenham eyeing Premier League winger

It has been widely reported over recent weeks that Spurs have been impressed with Antoine Semenyo’s performances this season and are plotting a January move for the winger.

It was claimed by Football Insider last week that the Lilywhites could battle the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle United for the 24-year-old, who has four goal contributions to his name so far this season.

The outlet added that an offer of around £40m-£50m would be enough to prise away the attacker from the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth not worried about Antoine Semenyo

The latest report from talkSPORT has now also backed up Tottenham and Newcastle’s interest in Semenyo, but it is revealed that the Cherries are relaxed about the situation.

This is because the Ghana international’s current deal at the South Coast runs until the summer of 2029.

As a result, Andoni Iraola’s men are well protected and are expected to demand a ‘huge fee’ if anyone knocks on the door over a deal for their star man.

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Tottenham may have one advantage

However, Bournemouth’s efforts to keep hold of Semenyo may not be straightforward as the player’s desire for a new challenge is now public information.

The winger himself admitted last week that he has his sights on playing for one of the top clubs as he wants a taste of European football.

Semenyo told The Athletic: “I want to play for the top clubs as well. In order for that to happen I need to prove it. Yeah, any team that plays Champions League, Europa (League) — that’s the aim.

“I know that’s not going to come with a click of my fingers, it’s going to take some time. It’s going to take goals. It’s going to take a lot of consistent performances. But I’ve worked all my life for that and I’m just going to continue working hard. That’s my mentality.”

Tony Cascarino says one Tottenham star is only just behind the talents of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold in the Premier League.

People are starting to wake up to his quality

It has taken a while for the English media to warm to Pedro Porro, perhaps because some wrote him off as a flop on the back of his poor start to life in the Premier League.

Since Ange Postecoglou arrived through the door at Spurs, the Spaniard has gone from strength to strength, and one can argue that he is the best right-back in the Premier League on current form.

Tony Cascarino makes Pedro Porro claim

The 25-year-old now finally seems to be getting the credit that he deserves, with Cascarino being the latest to join the Pedro Porro fan club.

The former Chelsea man opined that the Spurs star is not far behind Trent Alexander-Arnold when it comes to quality on the ball.

The pundit said on The Game Football Podcast: “Porro is so good on the ball, I mentioned it, Trent is probably number one, but he isn’t far behind, Porro, honestly, technically, watching him it’s like ‘wow, how much skill has he got?’. In dangerous situations, it might come with a price to pay.”

Tottenham will want to tie down Porro

The secret regarding Porro is now out of the bag, with everyone starting to realise just how good the former Sporting Lisbon man is.

The right-back is now on the radars of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, with both Real Madrid (The Athletic) and Man City (Football Insider) being credited with an interest in him over recent weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur found themselves completely overwhelmed by Crystal Palace this afternoon, falling to another defeat away from home, and after the game, Ange Postecoglou revealed how he wants his teams to set up to get the better of their opponents.

A poor showing from Spurs

Spurs went into the game on the back of a comprehensive win over West Ham last weekend and a solid victory over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League in midweek.

They came up against a Palace side who had failed to win in their opening eight games of the Premier League season, and expectations were high that Spurs could keep up their winning ways.

It wasn’t to be, though, with Palace taking the game to Ange Postecoglou‘s men from the very first minute, creating a number of chances while restricting Tottenham’s attacking play.

That’s not quite how Postecoglou wanted the game to go, naturally. In his post-match press conference (via Football.London), the Spurs boss described it as a game where his players seemed to “fall into the trap of trying to play the game ultimately Palace wanted to play.”

Spurs need to control games

Discussing what he would want to see from his players in these scenarios, it is clear that Postecoglou demands his team should dictate the game and play their own way at all times.

He said: “I don’t want to play them at their own game. What I want to try to do is get people to adjust to playing our game. Some of it is out of control because they’re obviously going to be pretty aggressive in their approach, which is not a surprise.

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“And how the referee deals with that, not so much in terms of the challenges but in terms of stoppages and taking their time, all of that is out of our control. But I just felt when we had control of things, we could have dealt with it better.

“We ended up doing silly things, giving away silly fouls and losing our composure, which just adds to that sort of game when you can’t get any traction. So I think we directed our frustration in the wrong way rather than dealing with like we should have.”

A bump in the road

Hopefully, this performance and this result is merely an anomaly, but it is concerning that now twice this season Spurs have appeared to just be completely overawed by their opponents. The players have got to be stronger and figure out how to create chances regardless of the circumstances and the way teams are setting up against them.

Mikey Moore was given his chance to start a Premier League game for the first time against Crystal Palace this afternoon. After the match, Ange Postecoglou commented on how he felt the youngster fared on his big day.

Big moment for Mikey Moore

After a starring role in the win over AZ Alkmaar in midweek, Mikey Moore was entrusted with a spot in Ange Postecoglou‘s starting XI for domestic action.

The decision made Moore the youngest Spurs player to start a Premier League game since Stephen Carr in 1993, and gave Tottenham fans reason to get excited ahead of a match the Lilywhites were very much expected to win.

However, Moore’s big day didn’t quite go to plan, with Spurs falling to a 1-0 defeat against a dominant Palace side. In truth, the away side never had a chance of getting anything from the game.

Moore lasted just over an hour before being replaced by Timo Werner, and while he didn’t play badly, he would have hoped to have influenced the game more.

Postecoglou comments on Mikey Moore

In his post-match press conference, Postecoglou was asked about that decision to play Moore from the start and how he felt the youngster fared.

He told Football.London: “Like I said it wasn’t really a great game for anybody out there from our perspective. Mikey every time he’s out there he’ll be a better player and the more we can get him out there in the right sort of environment then he’ll keep thriving. I’m sure he’ll learn a lot today.”

A valuable lesson for Moore

Naturally, Mikey Moore will have wanted to produce something special on his full debut, and I think a lot of the Spurs fans probably expected something, too. It wasn’t to be this time, but it’s still a huge moment for this exciting talent, and will have been a really good experience that can help him moving forward.