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Spurs extend lead at top of Premier League with Palace win

sam dean
·29 min read
Son Heung-min celebrates after extending Tottenham’s lead over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park - Spurs extend lead at top of Premier League with Palace win

In this age of waffly management-speak and high-tech tactical wizardry, there is something to be said for just getting the simple things right first. Sort the basics out — making players happy to come to work, for example, or empowering the right individuals at the right time — and the rest might just flow from there.

For Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur, now five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, the magic of his first few months has been in these small calls. And of all those decisions, it is hard to believe that any have been quite as successful as the one to make Son Heung-min the new captain of the team.

Postecoglou has not reinvented Son as a footballer. The South Korean was a very good player before this season and is still a very good player now. But the new Spurs manager has certainly rejuvenated his star man, who has a new sidekick in James Maddison and seems to be playing with a fresh energy at the age of 31.

The responsibility of leadership can be a burden for some players. It might well have been for Son, given his difficulties last year. Instead it has changed him for the better, as evidenced by this latest Spurs victory and his latest goal, his eighth of the campaign. Last season, in 36 league games, Son scored only 10.

Crystal Palace had battled well here, but this season it seems like the quality of the Spurs attackers will always shine through. Son’s effort at Selhurst Park, which followed Joel Ward’s own goal, was deadly in its execution. Maddison, inevitably enough, was heavily involved in both goals.

Crystal Palace suffered a terribly cruel blow when Joel Ward guided the ball into the back of his own net - Spurs extend lead at top of Premier League with Palace win
Crystal Palace suffered a terribly cruel blow when Joel Ward guided the ball into the back of his own net - Reuters/Toby Melville

Perhaps most encouraging of all for Spurs supporters, who must now be starting to believe a title challenge is genuinely possible, was the control and poise that Postecoglou’s side showed in the second half. They kept the ball patiently, drawing the sting from the game and effectively ending it as a contest. Cristian Romero, their centre-back, completed 141 passes across the course of the night — the most by a Spurs player on record in a Premier League match.

At what point can Spurs be described as title challengers? Ten games have now passed this season, and they are still going strong. Why not believe? Why not aim high? “Let them dream,” said Postecoglou of the fans. “That’s what being a football supporter is all about. I am certainly not going to dampen that. The dreams last as long as they do, until somebody wakes you up.”

There had been moments of difficulty, of course. But Guglielmo Vicario was impressive in goal again, making a fine stop in the first half to deny Odsonne Edouard, and it required a brilliant strike by Jordan Ayew in stoppage time to breach the Spurs defence.

For all of the control and mastery of the ball that Spurs showed in the second half, there was still a chance for Palace to steal a point. With almost the final kick of the match, Matheus Franca blazed his shot high and wide of Vicario’s goal. A moment of good luck for Spurs, perhaps, but one they had earned. A more “Spursy” team might not have been so fortunate.

“I enjoy every game,” said Postecoglou. “I want the players to enjoy the game. Not because we are top of the table but because we are living the dream, playing for a fantastic football club. The rest of it is about honouring that responsibility which has been bestowed upon us. For me, what’s important is we’re giving our supporters some joy, belief, hope. We need to just keep feeding into that.

Son Heung-min (left) and James Maddison - Spurs extend lead at top of Premier League with Palace win
Son and James Maddison have forged a strong partnership following the latter’s arrival at Spurs - Getty Images/Rob Newell

A good night was made better for Spurs by the return of Rodrigo Bentancur, back from a serious injury he suffered in February. There was also encouragement to be taken from an excellent assist by new signing Brennan Johnson, who found Son with a cut-back after Spurs had sliced through the Palace defence.

That was the second goal for the visitors. The first had come a few moments earlier, when the ball bounced towards Maddison in the penalty box. Only the England midfielder can explain whether it was a shot or a cross, as he lashed his effort across the face of goal. All that matters was that it was hit too powerfully, at too awkward an angle, for Ward to handle. It cannoned off the Palace captain and into his own net.

“We made life difficult for Tottenham,” said Roy Hodgson, the Palace manager. “At the break we were satisfied. But when the first goal goes in, with their ability to keep hold of the ball, it makes it difficult. We were trying and wanted to do it, but they are not top of the league for nothing.

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur: As it happened . . .

10:49 PM BST

Five points clear

Tottenham had the opportunity tonight at Selhurst Park to go five points clear before everyone else played this weekend and they have taken it. After a lifeless first half, Tottenham took the lead not long into the second half through a Joel Ward own goal, who should have done better than diverting it into his own goal. Tottenham then doubled their advantage just over 10 minutes later through Son Heung-min, whose strong start to the season continues.

The visitors looked like they were cruising towards three points but a late Jordan Ayew goal, which VAR checked for handball, caused some nerves in the Tottenham camp. But Ange Postecoglou’s side hung for the three points and their lead at the top has extended ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

10:44 PM BST

Porro delighted

10:43 PM BST

Romero happy with three points

10:39 PM BST

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson speaking to Sky Sports

“I thought our first-half performance was good. I thought we gave them a good game throughout. We are playing a good team. When you are 2-0 down it becomes very difficult. We took some chances and put some players on the field who have not played much for us and had a look at them. Right to the end, the team was fighting. We scored a late goal, had lots of corner kicks and were pressing. I am not disappointed in the performance but I am in the result of course.

“I trust the team and the players and in the first half I thought our structure was good. We made life difficult for Tottenham. At the break we were satisfied. But when the first goal goes in with their ability to keep hold of the ball it makes it difficult. We are playing against the team top of the league. We were trying and wanted to do it, but they are not top of the league for nothing. It was easy for them at 2-0 to take all the time in the world on the ball.

“Today’s performance was very different to the one last week. My overriding feeling is disappointment that we couldn’t build on the first-half performance.”

10:38 PM BST

Son Heung-min speaking to Sky Sports

10:32 PM BST

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario speaking to Sky Sports

“Yeah I think we have to be happy for tonight because it was a tough game. We saw in the first half they play compact so we can’t find the right line to pass the press. But we maintain focus and in the second half we show what we can do. But maybe to say a bit more concentrated in the last minutes. We have to stay focused for 100 minutes because just a little lapse can compromise a big win. We can enjoy this weekend and prepare for the next match.”

On conceding late on:

“Every game you want to keep a clean sheet. I am a little bit sad because it was in the 95 minutes. It is not so good for a keeper but I am happy for the lads. Great team spirit and we keep going.”

On his start to live at Spurs: 

“Of course, the performance is made by work during the week. We work hard, we train hard. We have to keep going and keep improving but we would like to be the top. We have to work a lot and then recovery and we go again.

“We don’t have to focus on the table. Just preparing for the next match, focus on that, good recovery and then a good week of work. We can manage this situation and not look ahead too much.”

10:21 PM BST

The thoughts of Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on Sky Sports

10:17 PM BST

Returning Rodrigo

Tonight marked the return from a long-term injury for Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur.

10:13 PM BST

Three points for Tottenham

10:10 PM BST

The view of Sky Sports' Gary Neville

10:02 PM BST

FT: Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 2

And that is it at Selhurst Park. Tottenham cling on in the end to the three points and go five points clear at the top of the league. They were in control going into added time at 2-0 up but Ayew’s late goal gave the home side hope.

10:01 PM BST

90+12 minutes: Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 2

That was the chance for Crystal Palace. Franca has an opportunity at the far post on the volley but it goes wide. He should have done much better there.

09:59 PM BST

90+10 minutes: Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 2

That is criminal. Crystal Palace have a free-kick which they launch long but Andersen was offside.

09:59 PM BST

90+9 minutes: Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 2

Johnson was booked in a melee after the Andersen foul for dissent. After going nearly the whole game without a yellow we have now had three. Ayew goes into the book now for dissent. Why has it taken Crystal Palace so long to go for it?

09:57 PM BST

90+8 minutes: Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 2

Crystal Palace have a corner. They send Johnstone up for it but Tottenham clear. There is a VAR check for handball but nothing given. Andersen goes into the book for a very nasty challenge. He went flying in and that was not a nice tackle.

09:55 PM BST

Check complete

Goal given and rightly so. This game is back on and Crystal Palace will still have around five minutes to find an equaliser.

09:54 PM BST

VAR review

Is it conclusive? Does it definitely hit Ayew’s arm? I am not sure you can say that it does. It is a long, long review as per usual with VAR...

09:53 PM BST

GOAL! Ayew gets goal back for Crystal Palace

This game is not over yet. Ayew volleys wonderfully into the far corner and Crystal Palace are back into this game. But VAR is checking for handball...

09:50 PM BST

91 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

Tottenham want more goals here, they are not just going to sit on this 2-0 lead. Johnson breaks into the penalty area on the right and Son has a shot, which is blocked by Guehi.

09:49 PM BST

90 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

There will be eight minutes of additional time at the end of this game. I am not sure where they have got eight minutes from. Tottenham are currently cruising to three points.

09:48 PM BST

89 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

Tottenham are making a double change as Gil and Bentancur, who makes his return from a long-term knee injury, replace Maddison and Kulusevski.

09:46 PM BST

87 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

That was terrible. The latest corner goes straight out of play. How can a professional footballer do that? Crystal Palace have had plenty of corners tonight and have been unable to take advantage of any of them.

09:45 PM BST

86 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

That just about sums up Crystal Palace’s evening. They have a free-kick on the right that hits the first man and Tottenham clear. But Crystal Palace do have a corner after good work from Andersen. That is followed by another corner. And another one...

09:42 PM BST

83 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

It is looking all too comfortable for Tottenham at the moment. They look much more likely to get a third than Crystal Palace getting back into this game. Johnson has a header at the back post from a very acute angle which does hit the arm of Clyne, but he was so close to it. VAR takes a look but rightly no penalty is given. That would have been ridiculous had it been given. It was a tight angle but could Johnson have scored there. It looked like he should have gone for goal.

09:39 PM BST

80 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

The Crystal Palace fans are getting very frustrated that their team is not pressing Tottenham and allowing them easy possession. They want to see some fight from their team. Yes they are 2-0 down but they already look defeated.

09:37 PM BST

78 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

Roy Hodgson is making a double change. Franca and Mateta are coming on to replaced Lerma and Edouard. Last throw of the dice from the Crystal Palace manager.

09:36 PM BST

77 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

Crystal Palace have a free-kick inside the Tottenham half on the left. Ayew whips it in and a good Romero header puts it behind for a corner. Tottenham get rid of the danger.

09:34 PM BST

76 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

Crystal Palace look deflated after that second Tottenham goal and it looks unlikely that they will get back into this game.

09:30 PM BST

72 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

Crystal Palace are really missing Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise. They are their best two attacking players and their absence is showing.

09:28 PM BST

69 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 2

There has been a delay after the goal as Mitchell was receiving treatment. He has gone off to be replaced by Clyne. Roy Hodgson has made another change as Ahamada has come for Hughes.

Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports:

“Absolutely brilliant from Tottenham. The footwork from James Maddison is outstanding and it’s a brilliant pass. Johnson does really well to find Son.

“The front three all involved but Son is not going to miss from there. He is on absolute fire. Not just this season but he has been for a long time. What a superstar he has been for a number of years.”

09:26 PM BST

GOAL! Son doubles Tottenham's lead

It is 2-0 to Tottenham and they are set to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League. The ball is shifted out to the left where after great footwork from Maddison, he lays it into the path of Johnson. He crosses for Son who has an easy tap-in finish to make it 2-0.

09:22 PM BST

63 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 1

Ange Postecoglou is going to make a double change. Johnson and Hojbjerg are coming on for Bissouma and Richarlison.

09:18 PM BST

60 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 1

Roy Hodgson has decided now is the time for a change. Rak-Sakyi has come on for Schlupp.

09:14 PM BST

55 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 1

Crystal Palace should be level. Hughes’ inswinging corner is right on point on the six-yard box but Guehi’s header goes wide. That should have nestled in the back of the net and it should be 1-1.

09:12 PM BST

GOAL! Own goal gives Tottenham the lead

Tottenham make the breakthrough. Maddison smashes a volley across the box and Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward diverts it into his goal. He should have done a lot better there and he should not have scored an own-goal.

09:11 PM BST

51 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Nearly for Crystal Palace. Schlupp does brilliantly inside the Tottenham box on the left and plays a dangerous ball across. Tottenham manage to just about clear their lines.

09:09 PM BST

50 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Kulusevski does well down the Tottenham right to win his side a corner through some neat footwork. But Tottenham waste it through a short corner routine and Crystal Palace win a throw-in to clear their lines.

09:07 PM BST

48 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Gary Neville on Sky Sports:

“They are missing Udogie. What he has done at the start of the season has been outstanding. They have lost a bit of impetus and maybe that is where Postecoglou feels they can change the game. But they need to get Maddison on the ball more.”

09:06 PM BST

47 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Crystal Palace have scored 10 of their 11 goals in all competitions in the second half of games this season.

09:03 PM BST

Second half underway

We are back underway at Selhurst Park. Tottenham are making a change. Davies, who came in for the injured Udogie tonight, has been replaced by Emerson Royal.

Remember if you want to have your say, you can put your views in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.

08:56 PM BST

Gary Neville on Sky Sports

“Crystal Palace started really brightly but they just weren’t able to capitalise on the chances they had. They had the best chance of the half when Vicario denied Edouard.”

“This is the first time Spurs had questions to answer this season.”

08:51 PM BST

The thoughts of Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports

“You go away from home in the Premier League, it is a tough game. You are coming up against Roy Hodgson who is really experienced. It doesn’t mean that you have played badly.

“But in the first five or 10 minutes of the second half I’m sure Ange Postecoglou will look to change something from the bench.”

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou reacts
Will Ange Postecoglou make early changes in the second half? - Toby Melville/Reuters

08:49 PM BST

HT: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

The referee Andy Madley blows the half-time whistle and it is all square at the break at Selhurst Park.

08:46 PM BST

45 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

We will have two additional minutes at the end of this first half.

08:43 PM BST

42 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

It is a fifth corner of the game so far for the hosts but Anderson’s header does not trouble Vicario’s goal. Roy Hodgson will be really disappointed his side have not made more of these corners they have had.

08:42 PM BST

41 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

The answer is no but they do have another corner and another chance to score from a set-piece not long before half-time. Vicario punches it out and it falls to Ward on the edge of the box. His shot goes well over but it did take a deflection...

08:41 PM BST

40 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Crystal Palace have now had a couple of corners in quick succession. Can they take advantage of any of these set-pieces?

08:39 PM BST

38 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

It is safe to say Crystal Palace are defending a bit better than they did last weekend at Newcastle, but that is not hard when you lose 4-0.

Maddison nearly gets a shot off at goal on the edge of the Crystal Palace box but just as he is about to let rip the ball is nicked off him well.

08:38 PM BST

36 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Tottenham win the first header at the near post and it loops into the air. Vicario catches it comfortably and Tottenham can clear their lines.

08:37 PM BST

35 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Van de Ven is back on and looks fine. One of Crystal Palace’s issues is when they win the ball back they do not have enough numbers forward. But they do have a corner...

08:35 PM BST

33 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Van de Ven is now down and he looks in a lot of pain. It was a foul from Edouard on the Dutch defender but it looked fairly innocuous. But Van de Ven is in some discomfort despite the fact the foul did not look that bad.

Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven receives medical attention
Micky van de Ven down receiving treatment - Toby Melville/Reuters

He is now back on his feet after receiving some treatment.

08:33 PM BST

31 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

This really needs to stop. Play is halted after Romero goes down holding his face. Replays show that although it was probably a foul on Romero, there was absolutely no contact with his face.

08:30 PM BST

29 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Tottenham have had 72% possession, which is probably not a surprise against Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace. Despite all that possession, they have not created many clear-cut chances.

08:28 PM BST

26 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

After some neat footwork on the left-hand side of the Crystal Palace box, Maddison crosses but it is too heavy. That cross should have been better from a player of Maddison’s quality.

08:25 PM BST

23 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Crystal Palace want a penalty for handball from a long-range free-kick. There is a short VAR review but nothing will be given there. It did look like it hit Richarlison’s arm but it was not deliberate and it hit him from about half a metre away. Never a penalty.

08:21 PM BST

19 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Richarlison has a shot on the edge of the Crystal Palace penalty area but he drags his shot wide and does not threaten Johnstone’s goal.

08:19 PM BST

17 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

An opportunity for Maddison. Kulusevski stands a ball up to the back post where Richarlison keeps it in. His header falls to Maddison no more than eight yards out but his volley is high and wide. He should have done a lot better there.

08:17 PM BST

15 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Bissouma takes it and that will be one of the worst free-kicks you will see this weekend. Skied over the bar and into the Crystal Palace fans behind the goal.

08:16 PM BST

14 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Tottenham will have a free-kick centrally in a dangerous area not far out from the Crystal Palace box after a foul from Ward on Maddison...

08:11 PM BST

9 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Could Maddison have done better? The ball is fed through to him on the left and the ball into Son who is free in the middle is on first-time. But Maddison takes a few too many chances and his cross is cleared away.

08:09 PM BST

7 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Another shot on target for Crystal Palace in the opening 10 minutes. It falls to Edouard just inside Tottenham’s box and his volley is saved down to his left by Vicario.

08:08 PM BST

6 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

It is Crystal Palace who have the first shot of the night. Initially Hughes looks like he is one-on-one but he does not have enough pace to beat Van de Ven. He holds it up and lays it off to Ayew, who shoots from just outside the penalty area. It is a fairly simple save for Vicario and he parries it away.

Crystal Palace's Ghanaian striker Jordan Ayew shoots but fails to score during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park
Jordan Ayew had the first shot of the night - Glyn Kirk/Getty Images

08:06 PM BST

5 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Tottenham have had the majority of possession so far and Crystal Palace have not really got going so far. You would imagine Roy Hodgson will be content for his side to give Tottenham a lot of possession but when Crystal Palace do have it they need to show more quality.

08:04 PM BST

3 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 0

Sarr manages to just get on the end of a ball forward before the byline and sends a dangerous cross in but none of his Tottenham teammates are there to meet it.

08:01 PM BST

Kick-off

We are underway at Selhurst Park.

07:59 PM BST

Moment to pause

We will have a moment to pause at Selhurst Park for the victims of the war in Israel and Gaza. We also have applause to remember Sir Bobby Charlton and Bill Kenwright, who have passed away in the last week.

Players pause to remember those affected by the war between Israel and Hamas militants that has devastated much of Gaza, ahead of the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park
Players pause to remember those affected by the war between Israel and Hamas militants that has devastated much of Gaza - Glyn Kirk/Getty Images

07:56 PM BST

Players are out

The players have emerged from the tunnel and we are just minutes away from kick-off.

07:54 PM BST

Reminder of the team news

Crystal Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Lerma, Doucoure, Hughes, Ayew, Edouard, Schlupp.

Subs: Holding, Matheus Franca, Mateta, Clyne, Richards, Ahamada, Matthews, Riedewald, Rak-Sakyi.

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Davies, Bissouma, Sarr, Kulusevski, Maddison, Richarlison, Son.

Subs: Skipp, Hojbjerg, Gil, Emerson, Dier, Lo Celso, Forster, Johnson, Bentancur.

07:53 PM BST

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson speaking to Sky Sports

“This game [against Newcastle] gave us some stuff to work on and I am sure we will see the team like what we want to see today.

“But, like against Newcastle, we are playing against a team that can cause a lot of problems for their opponents. We have to be aware of their threat but we are looking forward to the game and we will see what happens.”

07:48 PM BST

Maddison limbering up

James Maddison has made a good start to life at Tottenham after his £40 million move from Leicester over the summer. He scored in a London derby on Monday in a 2-0 win against Fulham and he will be hoping for another good performance tonight.

07:43 PM BST

Tottenham players out to warm up

07:40 PM BST

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish talking to Sky Sports

07:36 PM BST

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven speaking to Sky Sports

07:36 PM BST

Crystal Palace midfielder Will Hughes speaking to Sky Sports

“We can accept losing games but the manner we lost last week was unacceptable. It is a cliché but we need a reaction tonight.

“It’s fine margins in football. Every team you come up against is going to be brilliant. But it is fine margins.

“We are under no illusions how tough it is going to be. It is not by luck that they are at the top of the league.”

07:31 PM BST

Fancy a bet?

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07:30 PM BST

Do you agree Crystal Palace fans?

07:29 PM BST

Vicario getting ready in the Tottenham goal

07:20 PM BST

The visitors arriving

Tottenham have arrived, slightly late due to traffic!

07:15 PM BST

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou speaking to Sky Sports

07:11 PM BST

Full team news

Crystal Palace make one change as Jeffrey Schlupp returns from a thigh injury, replacing Jean-Philippe Mateta who drops to the bench.

Crystal Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Lerma, Doucoure, Hughes, Ayew, Edouard, Schlupp.

Subs: Holding, Matheus Franca, Mateta, Clyne, Richards, Ahamada, Matthews, Riedewald, Rak-Sakyi.

Yves Bissouma returns from suspension for Tottenham as one of two changes. Ben Davies also comes in.

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Davies, Bissouma, Sarr, Kulusevski, Maddison, Richarlison, Son.

Subs: Skipp, Hojbjerg, Gil Salvatierra, Emerson, Dier, Lo Celso, Forster, Johnson, Bentancur.

07:09 PM BST

The thoughts from the Sky Sports team at Selhurst Park

Gary Neville:

“Tottenham have been really good, more solid defensively than I imagined. In possession it’s fantastic. No one ever thought Tottenham would be able to cope without Harry Kane the way they have in these first nine games.”

Jamie Carragher:

“For any manager coming in trying to change the style of football, it was ingrained from the last few managers going back to Jose Mourinho. To change it so quickly is a really big thing. It’s not just about the results, Tottenham supporters are enjoying watching their team play.”

07:06 PM BST

Jamie Carragher speaking on Sky Sports

07:02 PM BST

Crystal Palace team news

07:00 PM BST

Tottenham team news

06:59 PM BST

Will Tottenham extend their lead at the top?

The Friday Night Football comes from Selhurst Park tonight for a London derby as Crystal Palace take on Tottenham. After nine games, Tottenham are two points clear of Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League table. Playing ahead of everyone else this weekend gives the visitors tonight an opportunity to go five points clear. Tottenham were involved in another London derby on Monday night, beating Fulham 2-0 thanks to goals from James Maddison and Heung-Min Son.

Crystal Palace meanwhile were on the receiving end of a 4-0 thrashing by Newcastle up at St. James’ Park last weekend. They sit in 11th place on 12 points going into tonight’s fixture.

Crystal Palace have won just one of their last 16 Premier League games against Spurs, drawing twice and losing 13. That came in a 3-0 home win in September 2021.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have won 61 per cent of their Premier League games against Crystal Palace, 17 out of 28. Only against Sunderland (66 per cent) do they have a higher win rate in the competition (minimum 20 meetings).

The omens are not on the side of Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson, who has won just one of his 20 Premier League games against Spurs, drawing 6 and losing 13, beating them 2-1 with Fulham in November 2008.

His five per cent win rate against Spurs is his lowest against any side he’s faced at least five times in the competition, while only against Chelsea (15) has he lost more such games (13).

Who will come out on top at Selhurst Park tonight?

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