Tottenham-Crystal Palace is a match valid for the thirty-fifth day of the Premier League and is played Saturday at 4 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
Against Liverpool last Sunday, the brave reaction of Tottenham, capable of coming back three goals to the Reds after finishing 3-0 down in the first fifteen minutes of the game, brought no points. A script similar to that of the direct clash played a few days earlier with Manchester United: in that case, too, Spurs managed to react in the second half (2-2), retaking the Red Devils and snatching an unhoped-for draw.
In the pyrotechnic 4-3 at Anfield Road instead, Tottenham had to surrender to Jurgen Klopp’s team, which in full recovery scored the decisive goal with Portuguese striker Diogo Jota, thwarting Richarlison’s late equalizer. It was a match of many emotions that effectively laid the tombstone on the fourth-place ambitions of the Londoners, who in the week were also bypassed by Brighton and slipped to seventh. The Champions League, although arithmetic does not yet condemn Ryan Mason’s men, is now light years away: fourth-placed Manchester United is +9 and has also played one match less than Kane and co. A comeback, frankly, seems impossible, taking into account the difficult situation Spurs are going through. Since Antonio Conte left, they have won only one game, drawn two and lost three.
Crystal Palace are now safe
Even so-called “minor” Europe is at risk at this rate, with Brighton and Aston Villa not giving an inch. Tottenham absolutely must get back to winning ways.
Hodgson
The three points are mandatory against a Crystal Palace revitalized by the Hodgson cure, which just crossed the 40-point mark and is virtually safe. The Eagles reacted immediately after the defeat at Wolverhampton, their first after four useful results, beating West Ham 4-3 in another London derby that did not skimp on goals and twists and turns. In Spurs’ trident Richarlison is expected to get the better of Kulusevski, while Lloris ended his season: the French goalkeeper joins the list of injured players, which also includes Bentancur, Bissouma and Emerson Royal. Doubtful Clyne in Crystal Palace.
The Prediction
Fifteen goals conceded in the last four games: alarming defensive numbers for Tottenham, who pay for false starts and are then forced into improbable comebacks. Spurs have more motivation than a now-saved Palace, but there will be no shortage of goals in this derby, in light of the two teams’ latest results: there will be at least three in total.
The likely lineups for Tottenham-Crystal Palace
- TOTTENHAM (3-4-3): Forster; Romero, Dier, Davies; Pedro Porro, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Perisic; Richarlison, Kane, Son.
- CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell; Eze, Doucouré, Schlupp; Olise, Ayew, Zaha.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-2
