After a rough start to the season, Tottenham take on high flying Crystal Palace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs know that a win will lift them above their London rivals whilst Palace will assure themselves of another week in the top four, if they can take all three points.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesTottenham will be without Argentinean, Giovani Lo Celso after he suffered a hip injury whilst on international duty.
Davinson Sanchez is a doubt with a recurrence of a recent ankle injury whilst fellow defender, Juan Foyth is definitely sidelined as he continues to recover from his own ankle injury.
Tanguy Ndombele (thigh), Eric Dier (hip), Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Sessegnon (both hamstring) are in contention after returning to first team training this week.
Crystal Palace are set to recall Scott Dann after the defender missed their win over Aston Villa last time out with a hand injury.
James Tomkins (groin) is also in contention but Martin Kelly is sidelined with a groin strain.
Form
Spurs are unbeaten in three of their opening four matches with Harry Kane their only player, who has scored in more than one game so far.
Crystal Palace have taken two wins plus a draw and loss apiece from their first four league games, with Jordan Ayew scoring in their last two outings.
Stat Attack
- Tottenham have lost just two of their last ten meetings with Crystal Palace, although both defeats did come in the FA Cup (W8, L2).
- All of Spurs’ last seven league goals against Palace have come after half-time.
- Palace’s Vicente Guaita is one of three goalkeepers to keep two clean sheets in their opening four matches, although both of his only came at Selhurst Park whereas Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Ederson of Manchester City kept one clean sheet both at home and away.
- Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris has made 19 saves in four games, more than any other goalkeeper so far this season.
- Toby Alderweireld has made the most touches for Tottenham, producing 346 touches which is 75 more touches than the 271 that Crystal Palace’s Luka Milivojevic has managed.
Prediction
This doesn’t scream entertainment given the absence of first half goals in recent league meetings, and I can unfortunately see more of the same here if Tottenham don’t fire on all cylinders.
Palace therefore should look to take advantage of any sluggish performance because they’re great when on their travels, with plenty of attack and pace which is often absent at Selhurst Park.
Although I think Spurs might scrape a win, I have a feeling that Palace can snatch a draw here if not victory.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Crystal Palace
Result: Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Crystal Palace