As the English Premier League extravaganza reaches Matchweek 27, it sets the stage for an exciting encounter between two city rivals, with Tottenham Hotspur set to host Crystal Palace in the London derby on Saturday afternoon.
Ange Postecoglou’s boys suffered a 2-1 upset to Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last league outing a couple of weeks ago and have had plenty of time to assess their campaign after resting last matchweek, with their Chelsea clash being postponed. Spurs currently occupy the 5th spot on the points table, trailing just one place behind Aston Villa in the race to claim a top-four finish and secure a Champions League berth.
Meanwhile, Palace, under the new managerial charge of Austrian tactician Oliver Glasner, who was recently appointed as Roy Hodgson’s successor at Selhurst Park, edged past Burnley 3-0 at home, marking a positive start under the guidance of their new boss. The Eagles had previously dropped points in three outings under Hodgson and currently stand in 13th place, 8 points clear of the relegation zone.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Date: Saturday, 2nd March, 2024.
Time: 3:00 pm BST
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: John Brooks.
Assistants: Lee Betts & Nick Greenhalgh.
Fourth official: Darren England.
VAR: Rob Jones.
Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.
TEAM NEWS
The hosts’ full-back duo, Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie missed their previous outing due to injuries. The Spaniard is expected to remain sidelined, while Udogie might make the cut. Meanwhile, Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Fraser Forster (foot), Richarlison (knee), and Manor Solomon (knee) are unavailable for selection due to injuries.
The visitors have received some good news from the treatment room: their key defender Joachim Andersen, along with Eberechi Eze and Will Hughes are expected to join the trip north of the city. However, Rob Holding (ankle), Michael Olise (hamstring), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh), Marc Guehi (knee) and Cheick Doucoure (Achilles) remain on the sidelines.
MATCH ANALYSIS
The Lilywhites have been inconsistent with their form since the end of 2023. They started the campaign in a commanding fashion but eventually failed to maintain momentum in the latter phase of the season under their Australian boss. The hosts are likely to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation. Guglielmo Vicario is in goal, with Udogie returning to back four alongside Emerson Royal, Mickey Van de Ven, and Cristian Romero.
Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are set for the double pivot duties behind a three-man midfield of Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min on the wings, with James Maddison in the playmaker role, providing chances for Timo Werner who will replace Richarlison as the striker upfront.
The former Eintracht Frankfurt boss will seek to clinch a second successive win at Spurs stadium, having proven his skills in the Bundesliga, and aims to uplift the Eagles’ season. Glasner is expected to opt for a 3-4-2-1 formation with Sam Johnstone between the sticks. The defensive unit should feature Joel Ward, Chris Richards, and Joachim Andersen.
The four-man midfield includes Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell as wide wing-backs, with Jefferson Lerma and Adam Wharton in the middle to keep things tight. Up front, the pairing of Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze poses attacking threats, with Jean-Philippe Mateta operating as the striker
KEY PLAYERS
Heung-min Son
As Tottenham’s captain, Heung-min Son has been a pivotal figure for the club following the departures of talisman Harry Kane and former captain Hugo Lloris. The forward has embraced the dual responsibilities of leading Spurs as captain and spearheading their attack by scoring goals.
The South Korean international currently leads Tottenham’s scoring charts in the 2023/24 campaign, amassing 12 goals and 6 assists across 23 appearances. His contribution will be crucial for the hosts’ offensive efforts against Crystal Palace.
MUST READ:
– UEFA Report Points to Challenges for Tottenham’s Champions League Qualification
– James Garner to Spurs? Tottenham shift focus from Gallagher
– James Maddison vs Brentford: Individual Performance Analysis
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Tottenham’s predicted lineup: Vicario; Royal, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Werner; Son
Palace’s predicted lineup: Johnstone; Ward, Richards, Andersen; Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Ayew, Eze; Mateta
