Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace: Premier League team news and preview

Tottenham Hotspur return home from Norway for domestic duties as they prepare to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Tottenham fans are still riding the high after their side booked a place in the Europa League final, comfortably seeing off Bodo/Glimt 2-0 away (5-1 on aggregate) on Thursday night.

It’s hard to move on from a feeling like that, especially considering their Premier League woes. However, the remaining fixtures still need to be played, whether they matter or not.

Likewise, Crystal Palace fans are also on top of the world, having secured a spot in the FA Cup final two weeks ago, where they’ll take on the blue side of Manchester.

How both teams go into Tottenham v Crystal Palace

Spurs come into this fixture fresh off their 2-0 second leg win in the semi-final over Bodo/Glimt. Goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro secured a 5-1 aggregate win and punched their ticket to Bilbao, where Manchester United now await.

In the league, however, it’s been a less joyful tale. Just before their trip to Norway, a run of three consecutive defeats was halted by a 1-1 draw away to West Ham. They sit 16th with 38 points from 35 games, ensuring a bottom-half finish for the first time since 2007-08.

Four places above them, Crystal Palace sit 12th with 46 points from their 35 matches. A miserable start to the season was slowly turned around under Oliver Glasner. However, like Spurs, the Premier League isn’t their main concern anymore.

After beating Aston Villa (yes, the same Villa who ended Spurs’ FA Cup run) 3-0 in the semis, they now face Manchester City in next week’s final. A win would not only end a 30-year trophy drought (their last honour being the Championship title in 1993-94) but would also earn them European football for the first time in the club’s history.

After their semi-final win, Palace returned to league action with a third consecutive 1-1 draw, this time against Nottingham Forest. Proper scoreline, although a 0-0 draw might have felt more fitting. That followed stalemates against Bournemouth and Arsenal, with their last five in the league reading LLDDD.

Head-to-head: Tottenham v Crystal Palace

The last time Spurs faced Palace, the Eagles hadn’t won a single match, and Spurs were firmly in the top-four conversation. Oh, how the tables have turned (literally).

The reverse fixture saw ‘Dr Tottenham’ at his best, ending Palace’s winless streak with a 1-0 defeat in late October at Selhurst Park.

That said, Palace haven’t won away to Spurs since a 0-0 draw in 2014. That match featured Ryan Mason and Mile Jedinak going head-to-head, both of whom now work under Ange Postecoglou.

If you ignore the home record, Spurs have still been dominant in this fixture. In the last 25 meetings in all competitions, Spurs have won 17, Palace five, and the rest were draws.

Tottenham team news

There was a slight concern when Brennan Johnson appeared to be struggling with his leg after being subbed off in the second leg. However, Ange Postecoglou didn’t mention anything about it in the post-match press conference, and the Welshman seemed fine during the celebrations.

Everyone else from the first leg got through the game uninjured, though we still expect significant rotations.

Postecoglou said Heung-Min Son has a chance for this weekend, but we await further clarity from his press conference later today.

Confirmed absentees for the rest of the season include James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, and Radu Dragusin.

Crystal Palace team news

Oliver Glasner confirmed that Adam Wharton will miss Sunday’s match but is hopeful of having him back for the FA Cup final.

He also mentioned that all the others are fit and available.

The long-term absentees remain Chadi Riad and Oumar Doucoure.

Predicted Tottenham lineup

Vicario, Gray, Romero, Danso, Spence, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Sarr, Odobert, Richarlison, Tel

Nine of Spurs’ starting XI played the full 90 minutes on Bodo/Glimt’s artificial pitch on Thursday, so the changes are self-explanatory.

Ben Davies has a decent chance of starting over Romero, though we expect Ange to rest the Argentine against Villa instead.

Pedro Porro could also retain his spot. But again, Ange might prefer to save him for Villa Park next week, given his comfort with quick turnarounds.

Midfield remains thin with Maddison and Bergvall out. But one possibility could see Davies slot in at left-back, Spence move to the right, and Gray pushed into midfield. Yves Bissouma was arguably Spurs’ best player over the two semi-final legs and will very likely start the final in the #6 role. Either he or Bentancur should retain their place here – the Uruguayan feels more likely.

If Son is fit, Ange may prefer to ease him back from the bench. Richarlison, who only played an hour in Norway, may be fit enough to start for a fourth straight game.

Players to watch out for

Kevin Danso: I can’t think of one person who doesn’t like this man. As things stand, he’s the most successful of Spurs’ January signings. Fans can only hope he makes his move permanent this summer. He’s arguably only behind Romero in positional awareness and passing from Spurs’ defence. A defensive duo of him and Romero could easily make a second successive clean sheet very likely.

Archie Gray: We’re aware that the chances of him starting aren’t very strong, although we’d love to see him. Fans have been too harsh on him after his showing at Anfield, but that atmosphere would’ve rattled even the best, let alone a teenager. If he starts, expect him to be more confident, regardless of the position.

Eberechi Eze: Definitely on Spurs’ summer watchlist. And should they win the Europa League and secure Champions League football, there will hardly be a reason for him not to join. He’s scored in each of Palace’s last three games and this match gives him the perfect chance to up his price if Spurs do come calling.

Our prediction

This might feel like a formality for both sides, but as Glasner said, momentum is vital heading into the big games.

Spurs will enter this fixture the more confident after their showing in the Arctic Circle. A win here, combined with losses for Wolves, Everton, and Manchester United, could lift them to 13th. A defeat, however, coupled with a West Ham win, could see them drop to 17th. And let’s be honest, Spurs do care about that. Like Ange Postecoglou said, ‘Spurs does crazy things to people’ – and even if they win the Europa League, critics won’t be quiet about their league finish.

Crystal Palace will likely rotate their key players, which should give Spurs a real chance to claim the three points.

Predicted score: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Crystal Palace

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