In pursuit of their second consecutive Premier League victory over a London rival, Tottenham Hotspur face off against a struggling Crystal Palace squad at Selhurst Park this Sunday. Bolstered by recent successes, the rejuvenated Spurs aim to capitalize on Crystal Palace’s lackluster form.
Tottenham’s European campaign saw another victory midweek as they defeated AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in the Europa League. With Richarlison converting a penalty in the second half, the Lilywhites clinched their third European triumph of the season, sending the Dutch side home empty-handed. Although the match showed promise, Tottenham’s inability to convert further chances highlighted a lingering lack of efficiency. Back in the Premier League’s eighth gameweek, however, they showcased a more clinical edge, staging a comeback to trounce local rivals West Ham United 4-0 after conceding early.
With a stronger European showing and a revitalized approach under manager Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham now sit seventh in the league standings, trailing the Champions League qualification spots by only four points. However, their lead over 13th-placed Brentford is only three points, emphasizing the competitiveness in the middle of the table. Despite the improvements Postecoglou has brought to their attacking style, Spurs have had a rocky domestic record on the road, securing just four wins from their last 17 away games in the Premier League. Nevertheless, with multiple goals scored in each of their last four away matches across all competitions, Tottenham’s potent attack, ranked second in shot attempts behind only Manchester City, remains a potent threat.
In contrast, Crystal Palace continues to struggle in the final third. Monday’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest — who were missing key players James Ward-Prowse and Morgan Gibbs-White — was a missed opportunity for the Eagles to break their Premier League losing streak. The defeat extended their winless start to the season, placing them 18th and marking a stark difference from their offensive resurgence at the end of the previous campaign. Palace now stands as one of four Premier League teams yet to secure a win this season, alongside Southampton, Ipswich Town, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Adding to Palace’s woes is their poor home performance; they have lost three of their four home fixtures this season, with only two goals scored at Selhurst Park, making them the league’s lowest-scoring home team. The history between these two clubs only deepens the challenges for Palace, as they have lost all five recent matches against Tottenham, including a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season and a 2-1 loss at Selhurst Park.
Son Heung-min, having sat out Tottenham’s midweek clash to rest a sore hamstring, is expected to return for Sunday’s encounter, potentially adding further firepower to Spurs’ attacking lineup. In Palace’s squad, goalkeeper Matt Turner is set to be available again after missing the match against his parent club, Forest, although he is likely to start on the bench.
The drought for Palace’s main striker, who last scored in the Premier League almost a year ago against Sheffield United, adds further pressure to the Eagles as they seek their first victory of the season. This longstanding scoreless streak underscores Palace’s difficulties in producing offensive consistency, leaving supporters and the club in dire need of a breakthrough.