Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace Match Preview
Crystal Palace will look to put their opening-day disappointment behind them with a positive result this weekend as they travel to White Hart Lane.
However, confidence is running low for the FA Cup runners-up. Only Aston Villa have lost more Premier League games than the Eagles in 2016, and having lost Yannick Bolasie to Everton during the week, manager Alan Pardew desperately needs to turn things around.
It is quite possible that the Eagles will dip into the market before the transfer window ends. There will be funds available for Crystal Palace, but whether the right player is there is a different question.
For Spurs, their first home game will provide the White Hart Lane faithful a first opportunity to see their summer signings Victor Wanyama and Vincent Janssen in action, as the Lilywhites look to build on last weekend’s creditable point at Goodison Park.
Injuries and Suspensions
The hosts are close to having their full squad available for Saturday’s fixture, with question marks over only two players.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris suffered a hamstring injury during the first half of the Everton game last weekend, and despite a scan and thorough assessment from the Spurs medical team, the severity is as yet unknown. However, it is unlikely that Tottenham will be willing to risk aggravating his knock, so Michel Vorm is likely to start in goal.
Meanwhile, centre-half Kevin Wimmer, who deputised for the injured Jan Vertonghen on several occasions in the second half of 2015/16, is a doubt, although PhysioRoom suggest he could return to this bench.
Moussa Dembele is suspended as part of his six-game ban following last season’s clash with Chelsea’s Diego Costa.
Conversely, Palace have several players out at the moment, and a handful of players will undergo fitness tests.
The Eagles could be without left-back Pape Souare for Saturday’s clash, as the Senegal man is suffering a hamstring strain.
There will be late tests for summer signings James Tomkins and Steve Mandanda, and James McArthur’s knee injury makes him a doubt.
Striker Frazier Campbell (hamstring), defender Zeki Fryers (groin) and forwards Jon Williams (ankle ligament) and Bakary Sako (groin) are definitely out.
Key Match-Ups
Andros Townsend vs Danny Rose
Saturday sees Palace’s £13million signing Andros Townsend return to White Hart Lane for the first time since his January departure to Newcastle, and he will be looking to make an impact similar to the one he had in the Magpies’ 5-1 thrashing of Spurs on the final day of last season.
In that game, he gave Welsh left-back Ben Davies a torrid time, repeatedly cutting inside from his nominal right-wing position, and for that reason, Mauricio Pochettino may choose to pick his other left-back, Danny Rose, to avoid a repeat of that game.
Harry Kane vs Scott Dann
Harry Kane had a miserable tournament at Euro 2016 with England. The 23-year-old looked unfit and off the boil in France, and the image of him taking corners despite his attributes as a penalty area poacher is one that will stick in the memory of all England fans.
However, he will be looking to make a strong start to the 2016/17 campaign with a goal against the Eagles, and may target Scott Dann. The Palace centre-half was given a tough time by the physicality of Salomon Rondon against West Brom, so Kane will look to take advantage of an opponent low on confidence.
Match Facts
- Tottenham have often found scoring goals at home to Palace a difficult task: it is 36 years since they netted three in a game at White Hart Lane against the Eagles.
- It is nineteen years since Palace’s last league victory at Tottenham, but they did win at the Lane in the FA Cup in February thanks to Martin Kelly’s strike
- Erik Lamela has been involved in seven goals in his past seven Premier League appearances (three goals, four assists)
- Excluding friendlies, Harry Kane has gone six games without a goal for club and country.
- Connor Wickham’s three goals in pre-season made him Palace’s top scorer
Predicted XIs:
Tottenham: Vorm; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Wanyama; Lamela, Eriksen, Alli; Kane.
Crystal Palace: Hennessy; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly; Jedinak, Cabaye; Townsend, Puncheon, Zaha; Wickham.
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