Tottenham face Crystal Palace away from home
Just two days after beating AZ Alkmaar at home in the Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur are back in action in the Premier League. A London Derby of sorts sees them face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday, October 27th, at 14:00 local time in the matchday nine fixture.
Ange Postecoglou’s men are in a decent run of form and have been doing very well over the last couple of months. A minor blip at Brighton fortunately did not undo most of their good work as they returned to winning ways against West Ham last weekend by a 4-1 margin.
Crystal Palace are in the relegation zone and still remain without a single win this season in the Premier League in eight attempts. They have, however, put on commendable shifts against Manchester United and Liverpool over the last month or so and thus, Spurs will need to be wary.
Team News
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace could be without as many as four of their first team squad members. Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucoure, Chris Richards and Matheus France are all expected to miss the visit of Tottenham due to their respective injury issues, with a recovery unlikely in time for either of them.
The Eagles’ top scorer this season is Jean-Phillippe Mateta, who has struck twice in the Premier League so far, but even his best efforts have not been enough to give him a win. A string of poor results could soon make Oliver Glasner the first manager to be fired in the ongoing campaign.
PREDICTED PALACE XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Guehi, Lacroix, Chalobah; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Kamada, Eze; Nketiah
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur are finally seeing the back of their injury problems. Wilson Odobert, one of the last players on the treatment table, is likely to be fit for the visit to south London after Son Heung-min and Richarlison returned to action over the last week and scored against West Ham and Alkmaar, respectively.
Son was rested during the Europa League match and did not even feature on Spurs’ bench, so he should be fresh to take on Crystal Palace. The South Korean, who has scored thrice in the Premier League so far, will need to deliver the goods if the team is to triumph at Selhurst Park.
PREDICTED TOTTENHAM XI (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Madisson, Kulusevski; Son, Solanke, Johnson
Game-deciding duel
Marc Guehi vs Brennan Johnson
Marc Guehi is arguably Crystal Palace’s best player, possibly leading Eberechi Eze in the debate. With the Eagles staring down the barrel, every match hereon is practically an audition for Guehi before an imminent move to a top side next season and he will be hoping to impress once more.
His task will not be easy as his opponent will be an in-form man, Brennan Johnson. The Welshman will be just as important as Son if Spurs are to pick up three points against Palace, and therefore, his duel with the former Chelsea academy product could be one to watch for.
Prediction
Crystal Palace 0-2 Tottenham
Crystal Palace have given Manchester United and Liverpool a run for their money. Tottenham, however, are head and shoulders above the Red Devils while Arne Slot’s side has historically struggled against Oliver Glasner’s side in the Premier League.
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Tottenham will have the ammunition to overcome them on Sunday with the tag of a London Derby expected to be a motivational factor as well for Ange Postecoglou’s men.
