Pre-season favourites for relegation, Crystal Palace will hope to defy the odds and pick up points against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend. The hosts won 3-0 the last time these sides met, though the chances of a repeat performance look slim for a Palace squad lacking in depth.
Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Preview and TV schedule
Crystal Palace’s eight year absence from the Premier League ends against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Manager Ian Holloway has bemoaned his thin squad, and has a trio of players unavailable for Sunday. Striker Glenn Murray -- who scored an impressive 30 league goals last season -- is out with a long-term knee problem, while wingers Jerome Thomas and Yannick Bolasie have ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.
Tottenham too have injury concerns, with Jan Vertonghen and Lewis Holtby both expected to miss out with ankle and knee problems. Gareth Bale has apparently been ruled out due to a foot injury, and not in connection with the ongoing transfer speculation linking him to Real Madrid.
Spurs manager André Villas-Boas could hand debuts to club-record signing Roberto Soldado, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli, though this game may come too early for new defensive midfielder Étienne Capoue to be integrated into the first team.
Crystal Palace injuries and suspensions
Out: Glenn Murray (knee), Jerome Thomas (ankle), Yannick Bolasie (hamstring) In doubt: None
Tottenham Hotspur injuries and suspensions
Out: Gareth Bale (foot), In doubt: Jan Vertonghen (ankle), Lewis Holtby (knee)
Match Date\Time: Sunday, 1:30 p.m. local, 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Selhurst Park, London, England
TV: NBC Sports Network (U.S.), TSN, RDS (Canada), Sky Sports 1/HD (U.K.)
More in Soccer:
See More:
