Tottenham Hotspur host Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane hoping to achieve back-to-back wins for the first time this season while Palace will be looking to continue their fine form.
Last week against Sunderland, Tottenham got their first win of the season despite an unconvincing performance. A wonderful pass-and-move goal started and finished by Ryan Mason towards the death was enough to grab the points. A midweek Europa League match also yielded a win as Son Heung-min grabbed his first two goals for the club while Erik Lamela added gloss to the scoreline with his first goal of the season.
Palace hosted in-form Manchester City and were aiming to repeat their strong performance against Chelsea a week before which yielded a win. Palace held out for 89 minutes before City academy graduate Kelechi Inheanacho broke Palace hearts with an injury time winner.
Key Battle – Dele Alli vs Yohan Cabaye
Dele Alli has found his way into Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI and has not failed to disappoint. The 19-year-old signed last January from MK Dons is highly rated at the club as seen by Pochettino’s confidence to thrust him into the lineup in place of the injured Christian Eriksen. On Sunday, his job will be to not only provide for Harry Kane but to prevent Yohan Cabaye from supplying Palace’s rapid forward players.
Cabaye is an experience head that knows his way around Premier League midfields. He can pass and he can pass well. He will be looking to use his experience to get the best of young Alli and control the game for Palace.
Team News
Eriksen and Mason face late fitness tests. Eriksen has been injured for the last month while Mason suffered an injury in scoring the winning goal against Sunderland. Moussa Dembele and Nabil Bentaleb remain out.
Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Ben Davies, Nacer Chadli and Harry Kane are expected to return to the starting XI.
If Mason remains out, Alli may revert to the central midfield role alongside Eric Dier which will mean Lamela is given a run in the number 10 role behind Kane while flanked by Chadli and Son.
Tottenham Hotspur Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris (GK); Walker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Davies; Dier, Alli; Son, Lamela, Chadli; Kane.
Damien Delany sustained a groin injury against City and is likely to remain out. Joel Ward remains out for the next few weeks. The good news for Palace is that captain Mile Jedinak is fit again after an injury in the League Cup last month. A start may come too soon for him, however. Connor Wickham sat out the game against City last weekend but could be back this week while Marouane Chamakh remains the long-term doubt.
Crystal Palace Expected XI (4-2-3-1): McCarthy (GK); Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Souare; Cabaye, McArthur; Sako, Puncheon, Zaha; Bolasie.
Head-to-Head
Spurs and Palace have faced each other 34 times. Spurs have come out winners 17 times. Palace have won six of those fixtures while 11 have ended in a draw. Despite having the upper hand in this fixture, Spurs failed to beat Palace last season, drawing 0-0 at home before succumbing to a 2-1 lost at Selhurst Park.
Prediction
Tottenham have put in some good performances this season without getting the results, namely against Manchester United and Everton while their worst performance this season yielded their only win against Sunderland. You never know which Tottenham side will show up but Spurs will have to be at their best to beat a Palace side that has caused problems for both Chelsea and City this season.
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Crystal Palace 2
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