Crystal Palace vs Tottenham
As Premier League leaders, Spurs are enjoying life at the summit.
There is limited pressure on them to stay there, little expectation they can last the pace and generally, only feel-good factors as they continue to inflict defeats on rivals and fellow challengers – while creating Premier League 2020 highlights en route.
Their latest big triumph, a 2-0 North London derby success, was as deserved as it was clinical.
Boss Jose Mourinho, however, is not a three-time Premier League winner for nothing.
He will know that a trip to Crystal Palace is never an easy fixture and that facing a septuagenarian in Roy Hodgson, he faces a manager who can inspire teams to achievements greater than the sum of their parts.
Talking Points
I recently witnessed his Palace team see off newly-promoted Leeds United with a swagger, And while the result was not as one-sided as the scoreline suggested, it was very much a stylish showing.
They also hit five for a morale-boosting triumph at 10-man West Brom last weekend and Luka Milivojevic, who was handed just a third league start of the campaign in that match, will be expected to retain his place in central midfield.
So will the always dangerous Christian Benteke who scored twice in that match, as the Belgian matched his tally from his previous 31 top-flight appearances.
This Sunday, Hodgson will have most players available for selection with their injury list easing – even though Nathan Ferguson, Wayne Hennessey, and Connor Wickham remain long-term absentees.
Spurs will again be without Erik Lamela because of an ongoing foot injury, while Serge Aurier is being assessed.
Midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, an unsung hero so far, was among those rested in the Europa League in midweek but is expected to return.
The recent record in this fixture doesn’t make pretty reading for Eagles’ fans.
Jeffrey Schlupp’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw last July remains their only goal in 13 hours versus Tottenham. Meanwhile, their solitary victory in the past 14 Premier League meetings against them came in this contest in January 2015.
Yet it must be remembered that they go into this weekend sitting comfortably in mid-table after equalling their highest points tally after 11 matches of a Premier League season. They also had 16 points at this stage in 2015-16.
They are also proving adept at taking the game to opponents and have led for 453 minutes this term, second only to Tottenham’s tally of 510.
Unbeaten in 10 games, winning seven and drawing three, this is the first time since 1984 that Spurs have been top of the table at this stage of a season.
The fact that they are on top, level in points with reigning champions Liverpool and two in front of Chelsea following a run of 10 top-flight games without defeat is testament to what Mourinho has created in his year at the club.
Written off by doubters, he remains the best manager in the league according to this SBOTOP writer and now looks reinvigorated after a spikey end to his time at Manchester United where he was let down by the club’s hierarchy.
What’s more is that he has got them sparkling in attack with the partnership between Harry Kane and Son Heung-min a sight to behold – apart from for opposition defences.
Son has scored 10 league goals in the first 11 league games this term, while the duo have combined for 11 of Tottenham’s 23 Premier League goals so far in 2020-21.
With figures like that, no wonder Mourinho is smiling again! The question is, will he be after a trip to the Palace?
History
Spurs have an impressive recent record against Palace.
Indeed, the Eagles’ recent league record against Tottenham doesn’t make pleasant reading, even if the Eagles did beat an undermanned Spurs club 2-0 at Selhurst Park in the FA Cup two seasons ago.
Crystal Palace have beaten Tottenham only once in their past 14 Premier League fixtures (D2, L11).
Until the final match of the final day of last season, Tottenham had won nine successive league meetings against the Eagles, conceding just once during that run.
Betting Tip
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Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur | Over 2.75 @ 2.16 |
| December 13, 10:15(GMT+8) |
The Premier League 2020 odds are clearly stacked in favour of the away side.
You can back them 1X2 @ 1.73 or Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.36, whereas the odds on a Palace success are 1X2 @ 4.80 or Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.25.
The draw @ 3.55 is a tempting bet as is, I suppose, a re-run of their final day meeting last term – correct score 1-1 – which will earn you a pay day of @ 6.80.
I do expect goals in this encounter, and a fair few in fact. That is why my *** tip is over 2.75 goals @ 2.16.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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