Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview, prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | Premier League 2025-26

The Eagles have 26 points from 17 games so far while Spurs have 22 points.

Selhurst Park prepares for a volatile Sunday collision as Crystal Palace welcome a disarrayed Tottenham Hotspur. Both clubs desperately seek redemption following bruising defeats.

Oliver Glasner’s troops recently suffered a heavy loss at Leeds United. However, they remain comfortable in the top half of the table. Meanwhile, Spurs flounder near the relegation zone.

This places immense pressure on manager Thomas Frank to immediately salvage their season. Because of this, the visitors must display resilience. However, suspensions to key figures like Cristian Romero severely hamper their defensive organisation.

The Eagles aim to exploit Tottenham’s evident fragility. They will rely on Jean-Philippe Mateta to dismantle a leaky backline that recently capitulated against Liverpool. What’s more, the timing proves critical.

Tottenham have secured only one victory in eight outings, leaving their confidence shattered. Palace will aggressively press their opponents.

They are buoyed by home advantage and know that a victory cements their European aspirations. In the end, this London derby shows two teams heading in completely opposite directions. One side hunts for stability while the other chases glory.

Kick-off:

• Location: London, England
• Stadium: Selhurst Park
• Date: Sunday, December 28
• Kick-off Time: 10 PM IST
• Referee: Jarred Gillett
• VAR: In use

Form:

• Crystal Palace (in all competitions): D-L-D-L-W
• Tottenham Hotspur (in all competitions): L-L-W-W-D

Players to watch out for:

Crystal Palace: Jean-Philippe Mateta

Jean-Philippe Mateta remains the clear main man of Oliver Glasner’s attack. The Frenchman has netted seven times in 17 Premier League appearances this term. He often drags defenders out of position with his intelligent movement and aerial dominance.

Mateta’s hold-up play facilitates quick transitions. This will prove vital against a fragile Spurs backline that struggles with direct counters. Mateta scores a goal every other game at Selhurst Park this season.

This makes him the primary threat to watch.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is FANTASTIQUE pic.twitter.com/09DPqTQeyj

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) November 1, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur: Richarlison

Richarlison carries the weight of Tottenham’s season on his shoulders. He is the lone reliable marksman during an injury crisis that has sidelined Dominic Solanke for months. The Brazilian forward has matched Mateta’s tally of seven league goals.

He displays a tenacity that contrasts sharply with the team’s broader inconsistency under Thomas Frank. He relentlessly presses opposition defenders. This will force errors that his teammates must exploit to climb the table.

The midfield is currently struggling to create. Therefore, Richarlison’s individual brilliance and opportunistic finishing stand as Spurs’ best route to salvation.

Spurs pics that go hard: Richarlison edition 🐦 pic.twitter.com/IyCpWPuvFH

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 6, 2025

Match Facts:

• Crystal Palace completed a rare league double over their North London adversaries last season. They secured victory in both the home and away fixtures without conceding a single goal. This grants them a distinct psychological edge ahead of this encounter.
• Tottenham Hotspur historically boast a superior record in this London derby. However, their current campaign suffers from severe defensive instability. They have conceded five goals in their previous three outings while languishing in fourteenth position.
• Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored five of his seven Premier League goals at Selhurst Park this term. The French marksman will eagerly target a depleted Spurs backline that sorely misses the suspended Cristian Romero.

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur Betting Tips and Odds:

• Crystal Palace to win: 23/20 as per 1Win.
• Jean-Philippe Mateta to Score Anytime: 13/8 as per Dafabet.
• Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score: 11/10 as per Winmatch.

Injuries and Team News:

Crystal Palace:

Crystal Palace approach this fixture with a depleted squad. Several key personnel are unavailable for selection. Ismaila Sarr is currently away on international duty, ruling him out of the contest.

A significant number of players are sidelined due to various injuries. This includes Chadi Riad, who is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury. The team does not expect him to return until early January 2026.

To make matters worse, a muscle injury hampers Rio Cardines. This will keep him out until mid-January 2026. A knee injury also sidelines Cheick Oumar Doucouré with a similar expected return date.

Daichi Kamada has sustained a hamstring injury. He will be out of action until late February 2026. A knee injury currently sidelines Daniel Munoz until mid-January 2026. On top of that, the club doubt the availability of Caleb Kporha, who is dealing with a back injury.

Tottenham Hotspur:

Tottenham Hotspur also face a substantial list of absentees. Multiple players are missing for different reasons. Both Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr are unavailable due to international duty.

The team is also dealing with disciplinary issues. Officials have suspended both Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons for this game.

Injuries have hit the squad hard. James Maddison suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury. This will keep him sidelined until early May 2026.

A knee injury sidelines Dejan Kulusevski. The medical staff expects him to return in late January 2026.

Destiny Udogie has a strain injury and targets a return in early January 2026. A foot injury sidelines Kota Takai until mid-January 2026.

Finally, an ankle injury sidelines Dominic Solanke. The team expects him back in late January 2026.

Head-To-Head stats:

• Total matches: 67
• Crystal Palace wins: 15
• Tottenham Hotspur wins: 37
• Draws: 15

Predicted Starting Lineups:

Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1):

Benitez; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Canvot, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Nketiah, Pino; Mateta

Tottenham (4-2-3-1):

Vicario; Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kudus, Bergvall, Kolo Muani; Richarlison.

Match Prediction:

Oliver Glasner’s disciplined unit looks poised to snatch all three points. This is mostly because Tottenham’s makeshift defence lacks leadership. They must withstand sustained pressure without the suspended Cristian Romero.

As a result, the Eagles will likely capitalise on their strong home form. They aim to inflict further misery on Thomas Frank’s disjointed side.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur.

Telecast Details:

India: JioHotstar, Star Sports Network

UK: TNT Sports and Sky Sports

USA: NBC Sports

Nigeria: SuperSport

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