Premier League

Crystal Palace vs Spurs: Preview, Team News, Likely Line-Ups & Predicted Score

Tottenham take on London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. Here’s a preview including team news, likely line-ups and predicted score fro the game.

by
Football Talk
August 17, 2013

Premier League new comers Crystal Palace kick off their pre-season campaign as they welcome London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurt Park on Sunday afternoon.

Tottenham’s pre-season preparations have been overshadowed by speculation over the future of Gareth Bale and the Welshman will be missing this weekend with a conveniently-timed foot injury.

Andre Villas-Boas men narrowly missed out on a top four finish last season with north London rivals Arsenal pipping them to it with a 1-0 win at Newcastle on the final day, but securing that all-important Champions League football will be the aim this time around.

AVB has been busy in the transfer market bringing in Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli to add real depth to the Spurs squad and they may even fancy themselves as dark horses for the title if they manage to keep hold of Bale.

Palace on the other hand will be happy to avoid relegation having secured promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs last season and Ian Holloway’s men are one of the favourites to go straight back down this year.

The Eagles will begin life in the top flight without top scorer Glenn Murray while Wilfried Zaha is now at Manchester United, and Holloway has splashed out big money on striker Dwight Gayle so will be looking to him to provide the goals this season.

Team News

Crystal Palace are expected to give debuts to a number of new signings with the likes of Marouane Chamakh, Elliot Grandin and Dwight Gayle all hoping to be involved.

However, winger Jerome Thomas is out after picking up an ankle injury last week against Lazio and he joins Paddy McCarthy, Glenn Murray and Yannick Bolasie on the sidelines.

As previous mentioned, Gareth Bale will miss out with a ‘foot injury’ while defender Jan Vertonghen is also likely to miss out with an ankle injury picked up in pre-season.

AVB is expected to give debuts to a number of new signings with Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue all in the squad.

Midfielder Lewis Holtby is out with a knee injury, Scott Parker will not be involved as he’s in talks with other clubs trying to secure a move away from White Hart Lane and Emmanuel Adebayor will also not take part after missing the majority of last weeks training through compassionate leave.