Crystal Palace will be eager to turn around their poor form as they host Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on Sunday. The Eagles are winless so far this season, and with a series of injuries hampering their squad, they face an uphill battle against a Spurs side that is in fine form, with five wins from their last six matches in all competitions. Tottenham, looking to secure a top-four finish and compete for silverware, will see this as an opportunity to pile more pressure on Palace and consolidate their push for Champions League qualification.
Crystal Palace
Roy Hodgson’s side is facing a tough challenge, as several key players are out due to injury. Despite this, the Eagles will look to hold their ground defensively and hit Spurs on the counterattack. They are expected to deploy a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Dean Henderson in goal. The back three will consist of Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, and Maxence Lacroix, while Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell will provide width from the wing-back positions.
In midfield, Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada will anchor the side, offering both defensive support and creativity. Eberechi Eze, Palace’s creative spark, will operate in a more advanced role, providing service to the front two, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah.
Injury News:
- Chadi Riad, Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure, Matheus Franca, and Rob Holding are unavailable due to injuries.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Henderson; Chalobah, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Eze; Mateta, Nketiah.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham head into this fixture brimming with confidence. Ange Postecoglou’s side is enjoying a strong start to the season, and even without key players like Son Heung-min and Djed Spence, they possess enough firepower to trouble Palace. Spurs are likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will operate as full-backs, providing width and attacking support, while Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven form a strong central defensive partnership.
In midfield, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr will provide defensive cover, allowing James Maddison to pull the strings in the final third. Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert will start out wide, while Dominic Solanke will lead the attack, aiming to exploit Palace’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Injury News:
- Son Heung-min and Djed Spence are ruled out due to injury.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Odobert; Solanke.
Key Stats
- Tottenham have won their last five matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions.
- The last six encounters between these two sides have produced 18 goals.
- Crystal Palace are winless in five of their last six matches, struggling to find form.
- Palace have failed to score against Tottenham in three of their last five meetings.
Player to Watch: Dejan Kulusevski
Dejan Kulusevski has been pivotal for Tottenham in his more advanced role, creating goalscoring opportunities for his teammates with his technical ability and vision. His creativity will be crucial for breaking down Crystal Palace’s defense, and Spurs will rely on him to deliver in the final third, especially in the absence of Son Heung-min.
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Prediction
Crystal Palace 1-2 Tottenham
How to Watch Crystal Palace vs Tottenham
Watch online via NaijaSport247 TV
