After a cagey start to the new Premier League campaign, Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for their second showdown in the league, this time against fellow London side Crystal Palace.
Alan Pardew’s men will be bearing a huge loss this weekend as they recently lost their star man Yannick Bolasie, who has moved to Everton. Besides that, it will be a homecoming for the former Tottenham man Andros Townsend, who joined the Eagles this summer from Newcastle United. It is expected that this will be a one-sided affair, as Crystal Palace have only won two of their last 22 games in the Premier League since Christmas.
But since it is the Premier League, we cannot really predict anything right at the beginning.
Tottenham vs Crystal Palace Team News:
The home side does not really have many concerns over the injuries, but their skipper Hugo Lloris will surely be missing the fixture as he has been ruled out for four weeks with a hamstring injury. The Frenchman was replaced just after 35 minutes of the game and later it was revealed that he will be missing four weeks following his injury.
Besides that, the Austrian defender Kevin Wimmer is struggling for fitness as well, but might just be fit enough to make it to the game.
For the visitors, the club recently confirmed that their skipper Mile Jedinak has joined the Championship side Aston Villa on a three-year deal. Besides that, defender Pepe Souare is suffering from a muscle fatigue, but could mark his return in the fixture. Furthermore, striker Fraizer Cambell and attacking midfielder Bakary Sakho are the sure absentees.
Predicted lineup:
Tottenham:
Vorm
Walker; Alderweireld; Vertonghen; Rose
Dier; Wanyama
Lamela; Alli; Eriksen
Kane
Crystal Palace:
Hennessey
Ward; Dann; Delaney; Souare
Cabaye; Puncheon
Townsend; Lee; Zaha
Wickham
Stats: (taken from FourFourTwo):
- Four of the seven Premier League meetings between these sides at White Hart Lane have been draws (two wins for Spurs, one win for Palace).
- Crystal Palace have lost four of their last six league games against Tottenham, drawing one and winning the other in Alan Pardew’s first game as manager.
- Harry Kane has gone three Premier League games without scoring for Spurs. The last time he went longer without a goal was at the start of last season, in which he failed to score in opening six matches.
- Kane’s next Premier League goal will be his 50th. If he scores in this match then he’ll have reached this tally in 88 appearances, which will be the joint-10th quickest alongside Robbie Fowler.
- Erik Lamela has had a hand in seven goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (three goals, four assists).
- Crystal Palace have won just two of their 20 Premier League games in 2016 so far (W2 D5 L13).
Prediction:
Looking at Crystal Palace’s recent form, it is safe to say that Tottenham are the favourites and what makes it worse for the Eagles is the home support for the White Hart Lane outfit. A comfortable victory for Pochettino’s men is what we will predict here.
3-0 Tottenham
