Premier League LIVE: Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur - Radio & Text Commentary, Preview, Team News, Stats & Head-to-Head
Live Coverage:
- Follow the action as Crystal Palace takes on Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
- Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live from Selhurst Park, starting at the top of the page.
The Teams:
- Crystal Palace (9th place) and Tottenham Hotspur (14th place) enter the match on the back of consecutive losses.
Live Reporting by Neil Johnston:
1. Crying Out for a Win:
- Tottenham, fresh from their Europa League victory, faces a surprising predicament. They are four points and five places behind Crystal Palace in the table after winning just one of their last eight league games, earning only five points from 24 possible.
- Tottenham's need for a win is evident as they approach the end of the year.
Team News:
- Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Mitchell, Lacroix, Guehi, Lerma, Clyne, Hughes, Wharton, Devenny, Pino, Mateta.
- Subs: Benitez, Nketiah, Uche, Esse, Canvot, Sosa, Rodney, Drakes-Thomas, Benamar.
- Tottenham XI: Vicario, Danso, Van de Ven, Gray, Bergvall, Kudus, Porro, Spence, Bentancur, Richarlison, Kolo Muani.
- Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Palhinha, Tel, Johnson, Takai, Odobert, Davies, Scarlett.
Key Absences:
- Tottenham is without Xavi Simons, who starts a three-game ban for serious foul play, and Cristian Romero, who was sent off in the previous game against Liverpool.
London Derby:
- Both clubs are under pressure to perform in this crucial London derby.
- Crystal Palace and Tottenham are both out of form, adding to the intensity of the match.
All I Want for Christmas:
- Tottenham manager Thomas Frank hopes for late Christmas surprises, such as a reliable captain who doesn't accumulate yellow cards.
- A £52 million recruit is expected to spark Tottenham into action, and three points against Crystal Palace could provide much-needed relief.
