Tottenham are staring down the barrel in this London derby against Crystal Palace. They're languishing in 17th, with a string of losses that make for grim reading: a 0-3 thrashing by Nottingham Forest, a 1-3 defeat to Crystal Palace, and a 2-1 loss at Fulham. And that draw with Liverpool feels like a minor miracle amid the chaos.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, look more composed in 14th spot. They've managed a goalless draw with Leeds and, crucially, that 3-1 victory over Tottenham earlier this month. It's given them a bit of momentum, even if their form isn't exactly sparkling. But they've got points on the board and a head-to-head edge in this season's meetings—splitting the two clashes so far.
Tottenham's problems run deeper than just results. Key players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are sidelined until summer, along with several others including Yves Bissouma and Guglielmo Vicario. That's a massive blow for a team already fighting relegation. Crystal Palace aren't immune, with Caleb Kporha out and Eddie Nketiah not back until late March, but it hasn't derailed them yet.
Watch out for Richarlison; he's Tottenham's top scorer with nine goals this season, and Cristian Romero has chipped in with a few too. Over at Palace, Jean-Philippe Mateta leads the line with eight goals, backed up by Ismaïla Sarr's seven. These guys could decide the game, especially in a match where both sides might need a spark.
With Tottenham's leaky defense and Palace's steady mid-table grind, I reckon the visitors should come out on top. They've handled Spurs before, and Spurs' injury woes make it tough to see them turning things around quickly. Expect a tight affair, but Palace have the edge here.
Recommended Bets
Crystal Palace to win @ 2.50 — They're in better form and already beat Tottenham this season, so this feels like value.
Over 2.5 goals @ 1.90 — Recent matches for both teams have seen plenty of scoring, including that 3-1 thriller between them.
Jean-Philippe Mateta to score anytime @ 2.20 — As Palace's top scorer with eight goals, he's likely to threaten Tottenham's vulnerable defense.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
