Tottenham host Crystal Palace in a mouthwatering London derby in a midweek Premier League fixture.
Having endured their worst-ever Premier League finish in the 2024/25 season, when they finished in 17th place, the sirens are blasting loudly once again at Tottenham Hotspur in 2025/26.
Igor Tudor, who has replaced Thomas Frank at the helm as an interim head coach until the end of the season, has endured the worst possible start in North London. He has overseen back-to-back defeats to Tottenham’s London rivals, Arsenal and Fulham. There have been little signs of progress since he walked into the club, and uncomfortable questions are now being asked of him.
After going 2-1 down to Fulham, Tottenham have an immediate chance to respond in front of their fans when they host Crystal Palace in another London derby. This will be Tottenham’s third consecutive London derby, and Tudor will be hoping it is third time lucky for him on Thursday evening.
Chris Sutton makes Tottenham vs. Crystal Palace prediction
Tottenham’s last league win this season came at the home of Crystal Palace back in December. A 1-0 win at Selhurst Park saw them end 2025 on a high note. However, things have spiralled out of control since then, with Spurs now finding themselves only four points above the drop zone.
Despite not having won in the Premier League for more than two months now and possessing an abysmal home record this season, Chris Sutton has backed the Lilywhites to get the better of Crystal Palace.
“Tottenham’s home record is wretched – Wolves are the only top-flight team to have picked up fewer points than them on their own turf so far,” Chris Sutton wrote in his column for BBC Sport.
“The atmosphere there has been toxic all season anyway, and we are into territory where, if Tudor loses this, things could get even worse.
“I am not sure about Crystal Palace either, mind you. After a difficult few weeks, they actually looked good against Manchester United on Sunday but they will miss the suspended Maxence Lacroix here, who is important for them at the back.
“It would be against the odds, but I am going to back Spurs here. Their last league win came against Palace, at the end of 2025 – maybe they will get their first league win of 2026 against the same opposition.”
Tottenham have the chance to do a league double over Palace
Palace have been on a downward spiral since winter, with former skipper Marc Guehi joining Manchester City in the past transfer window and manager Oliver Glasner falling out with the hierarchy.
The Eagles are 14th in the table, six points above Tottenham. They were excellent against Manchester United at Old Trafford before Maxence Lacroix’s red card in the 56th minute. Everything fell apart after that, but there were several positives to take for Glasner from the defeat to Man United.
So, Spurs must know the challenge they are about to face in midweek, although Lacroix’s absence will lead to alterations in the backline. Tudor has to get his tactics spot on, and using a two-pronged attack of Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani to press and probe a depleted Palace defence could work. All in all, the North London side have a great opportunity to complete a league double over the Eagles and give Tudor some breathing space.