Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace - prediction, team news, lineups

Tottenham Hotspur will be aiming to make it three wins in a row in the Premier League for the first time since November when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday evening.

Spurs finally appear to have found some momentum but are still down in eighth in the table, while Palace are five places worse off following back-to-back stalemates.

Match preview

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While the Europa League can often prove to be a hindrance for teams, particularly one now so used to reaching the latter stages of the Champions League, for Tottenham it has helped to kickstart their campaign.

Jose Mourinho's men had lost five of their last six games before thumping Wolfsberger 4-1 in their Europa League last-32 first leg on February 18 and have followed that up with three wins in their next four games.

That includes a run of three wins in a row without conceding in all competitions, seeing them through to the last 16 of the Europa League and moving them to within five points of the Premier League top four.

Tottenham, who still have a game in hand to play on fourth-placed Chelsea, will now be looking for a third league win in a row for the first time in four months when they host a Palace side with little to play for.

The Eagles played out a 0-0 draw with Manchester United in midweek, three days on from drawing to city rivals Fulham by the same scoreline, leaving them 11 points above the relegation zone and 11 adrift of the top six.

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Palace face an uncertain period given that half of their squad, plus manager Roy Hodgson, will be out of contract in the summer, but between now and then it will be a case of attempting to finish as high as possible in the league.

After drawing to Fulham last weekend, Palace are now winless in their last five Premier League London derbies, though four of these have ended level, including the reverse meeting with Spurs in December.

Tottenham's 1-0 victory against Fulham on Thursday, secured through a Tosin Adarabioyo own goal in the first half, saw them return to winning ways in London derbies after losing 2-1 to West Ham United in their previous-such outing.

Evening accounting for the draw when the sides last faced off, the Lilywhites boast an impressive record against Palace, going 11 Premier League games without defeat in this fixture - their best ongoing run against any side in the division.

Team News

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Tottenham have near enough a fully-fit squad to choose from for this game - a real rarity for Premier League teams this season - with midfielder Giovani Lo Celso their only confirmed absentee.

Mourinho handed Dele Alli a first league start since the opening weekend in Thursday's win at Fulham, while a back-in-form Gareth Bale started for the second game running in all competitions.

Both players will be eager to retain their place in the side against Palace, but Mourinho has the likes of Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Steven Bergwijn to call upon in attacking midfield.

Son Heung-min seems certain to start out on the left-hand side, with the South Korean looking to add to his five goals and one assist in this fixture - only against Southampton has he netted more times in the competition.

As for Palace, they remain without as many as nine first-team players, with midfielder James McCarthy the latest name on the growing injury list after limping off in the draw with Man United.

Of more concern to Hodgson will be the fitness of star man Zaha, who has missed Palace's last five matches but could return to the side on Sunday.

Jairo Riedewald is among those in line for a recall, though Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew should be given the nod up top once again, even on the back of successive blanks.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Ndombele; Bale, Lucas, Son; Kane

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Ward, Kouyate, Cahill, Van Aanholt; Townsend, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Eze; Benteke, Ayew

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Crystal Palace

Palace have kept back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League and won 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion in their most recent away outing.

The Eagles have not won successive away league games since June 2020, though, and they face a Spurs side back in form thanks to three wins-to-nil on the spin in all competitions.

We are backing the home team to keep their positive streak going with another victory on Sunday.

Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below: