The third game of the week sees the Eagles make the short trip across London to take on a Spurs side struggling to exclude themselves from the battle for survival as the season heads towards the run in.
Interestingly, this will be a fixture between two sides who claim to have suffered at the hands of the officials at the weekend with the hosts looking to be more desperate for victory sitting just four points above the bottom three.
The dubious decisions at Old Trafford at the weekend ensures Maxence Lacroix misses the game with Chadi Riad expecting to deputise although the returning Jefferson Lerma could feature in some capacity off the bench. There is no denying that the French defender will be a big miss but Oliver Glasner pointed towards the home victory over Wolves which was managed without him but he is expecting others to step up.
A lot of positives can be taken from the defeat in Manchester with Palace constantly threatening even after Lacroix was forced to take an early bath. With Eddie Nketiah not expected to be back from injury until April, fellow striker Jean-Philippe Mateta will feature in team training next week ahead of the visit of AEK Larnaca.
Away games against Spurs have rarely been kind to the Eagles but their poor form which has seen yet another managerial change could be an opportunity for the visitors to take advantage of.
Palace do make the trip with former Spurs player Brennan Johnson in the squad after his move across London at the beginning of the year, and hopefully he can assist with a plan for Glasner to plot a victory in North London for the Eagles.
Match Preview
Premier League – Thursday, 5 March 2026
Kick‑off: 20:00 GMT
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Context & Form Guide
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs enter this clash in deep trouble, sitting 16th and still searching for their first Premier League win of 2026, currently on a 10‑game winless run. Their latest outing was a 2–1 defeat to Fulham, continuing a sequence of four straight league losses.
New interim boss Igor Tudor has lost his first 2 games (Arsenal and Fulham) and openly criticised the team’s lack of quality across all areas.
Crystal Palace
Palace sit 14th, six points above Spurs, and have shown flashes of improvement recently with 3 wins in their last 6 across all competitions. They were competitive at Old Trafford before Maxence Lacroix’s red card triggered a 2–1 defeat to Manchester United. Oliver Glasner is expected to depart at the end of the season, but his side’s general performances are steadier than Spurs’.
Team News
Tottenham
- Cristian Romero: Serving the last match of his four‑game suspension.
- Djed Spence: Minor calf injury; uncertain for selection.
- Long‑term injuries continue for Lucas Bergvall (ankle), Mohammed Kudus (hamstring), Destiny Udogie (hamstring), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), plus long‑layoffs for Odobert, Bentancur, Davies, Maddison.
Crystal Palace
- Maxence Lacroix is suspended after his red card against United.
- Injuries continue for Jefferson Lerma, Jean‑Philippe Mateta, Eddie Nketiah, and Cheick Doucouré.
Predicted Lineups
Tottenham (4‑4‑2)
Vicario; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Gray; Gallagher, Bissouma, Palhinha, Simons; Solanke, Richarlison
Crystal Palace (3‑4‑2‑1)
Henderson; Riad, Richards, Canvot; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Johnson; Strand Larsen
Tactical & Match Expectations
Tottenham Outlook
Tottenham are playing with low confidence, lacking fluency in all thirds. Tudor wants a reaction, but performances so far suggest they’re struggling to adapt to his demands. Spurs’ defence is especially fragile, conceding regularly and failing to close out games.
A key positive could be Richarlison, who scored off the bench against Fulham and is tipped to start. His output is good when he gets chances (8 PL goals in 13 starts), and Tottenham may rely on him for attacking spark.
Crystal Palace Outlook
Palace look the more cohesive side, and before Lacroix’s red card at Old Trafford, they troubled Manchester United significantly. Glasner’s side blends compact defensive structure with brisk counters, particularly through Sarr and Johnson.
Even with injuries, Palace have shown better organisation and resilience than Spurs across recent matches.
Officials
- Referee: Andy Mdaley
- Assistants: Craig Taylor, Mark Scholes
- Fourth official: Ruebyn Ricardo
- VAR: Nick Hopton
- Assistant VAR: Lee Betts
Prediction
Most analysts lean towards Palace taking advantage of Spurs’ crisis:
- Sports Mole: Spurs’ winless streak makes improvement doubtful.
- Ladbrokes: Predicts Tottenham 1–2 Palace, with Palace piling more pressure on Tudor.
- Yardbarker: Notes Palace’s confidence and Spurs’ deep slump, hinting at another tough night for the hosts.
Preview Prediction:
Tottenham 1 – 1 Crystal Palace
Spurs may grab a goal through Richarlison, but Palace’s structure, form, and confidence may edge the game but the safe bet is for the points to be shared.
