Premier League | Gameweek 36

May 11, 2025 at 2.15pm UK

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Spurs vs Crystal Palace

Match preview

A brave man once said he always wins in his second year - a claim that was no doubt met with scepticism and derision at the time - but Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is just 90 minutes away from fulfilling that prophecy in Europe's second tier.

Having weathered a literal storm in the Arctic Circle against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night, Spurs went about their business in a professional manner and booked their ticket to the showpiece match with a 5-1 aggregate win in the semi-final, setting up a mouth-watering final against fellow Premier League strugglers Manchester United.

With all roads leading to Bilbao for the Lilywhites, the hosts should simply go through the motions in the Premier League between now and the end of the season, where the overriding goal for 16th-placed Spurs should simply be to avoid finishing 17th.

Last weekend's forgettable 1-1 draw with West Ham United stretched Tottenham's winless run in the top flight to four games, while only one of their last nine league games has ended in success, and even that came at home to a doomed Southampton last month.

In that time, Postecoglou's men have failed to beat West Ham, Fulham and Chelsea, which has contributed to the fact that the hosts have taken just 11 points from 11 Premier League London derbies this season.

While Tottenham can only secure European football for 2025-26 by triumphing in the Europa League, Crystal Palace still have the slimmest of chances of sneaking into the Premier League's top eight, which could open the door to the Conference next season.

However, with Oliver Glasner's men seven points adrift of Bournemouth with just three games remaining, the Eagles' best chance of breaking into the top flight will come at Wembley, as anticipation builds ahead of a mouth-watering FA Cup final against Manchester City in two weekends' time.

Sunday's trip to Spurs is therefore Palace's last chance to regain some of the momentum they have lost at an alarming rate in recent weeks; after winning five in a row in all competitions between 22 February and 29 March, they have now won just two of their last eight.

Monday night's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest left Crystal Palace without a win in five consecutive top-flight matches, although the Eagles need just one more win to equal their club record of 49 Premier League points, a half-century in the competition.

However, history suggests that Palace are unlikely to match their Premier League best at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Eagles having lost each of their last nine top-flight games away from home to Spurs, although a Jean-Philippe Mateta-inspired 1-0 home win in October means that the visitors are on course for a first-ever league double over their London rivals.

Recent Performance

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:LWLLLD

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):WLLWDW

Crystal Palace Premier League form:WLLDDD

Crystal Palace form (all competitions):LLDDWD

Team News

The only sour note in Spurs' victory over Bodo/Glimt in midweek was Brennan Johnson's departure midway through the second half, but there are no serious concerns over the Welshman, who will be one of several rested players.

James Maddison, however, joins Lucas Bergvall (ankle) and Radu Dragusin (knee) in the injured list with the knee problem he picked up in the first leg of the semi-final, while it remains to be seen if foot victim Son Heung-min will be fit to return, with Postecoglou "half hopeful" of his availability.

The Spurs captain's nine Premier League goals against Palace are his second-highest tally against a single opponent in the competition after Southampton's 11, but Mathys Tel and the now rarely seen Mikey Moore are capable deputies.

Glasner and Postecoglou will be sympathetic when it comes to key midfielders picking up ankle problems, as was forced off in the 61st minute of the draw with Nottingham Forest.

The Palace boss was hopeful at the time that Wharton's problem was minor, but the former Blackburn Rovers man will not be available on Sunday as the Eagles desperately try to recover in time for the FA Cup final.

Wharton joins knee victims Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure on the sidelines, with either Will Hughes or Jefferson Lerma likely to deputise for the Englishman alongside Daichi Kamada, who has unexpectedly broken into the visitors' XI in recent weeks.

Possible starting lineup

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Gray, Danso, Davies, Spence; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Sarr; Odobert, Tel, Moore

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Kamada, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta