Crystal Palace vs Tottenham predictions: Goals the safest option at Selhurst Park
Enda McElhinney
Crystal Palace did the Premier League double over Tottenham last season
Both sides have lost successive league games ahead of this clash
Recommended bet: Over 2.5 goals
Two of out of sorts London rivals bothdo battle at Selhurst Park on Sunday as both Crystal Palace and Tottenham bid to sign off historic, trophy-winning years with an uplifting result.
The Eagles famously won the FA Cup at Wembley in May, while Spurs' long quest for silverware ended with Europa League glory in Spain, only for Ange Postecoglou to lose his job.
Thomas Frank's tenure has run into some troubled waters already, while Oliver Glasner must take something from this game to avoid equalling his longest losing run in the Premier League.
The latest Crystal Palace vs Tottenham odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Defender Chris Richards was stretchered off in Palace's EFL Cup defeat at Arsenal in midweek and looks set to miss out now.
Eddie Nketiah also picked up a knock at the Emirates and is a doubt, while the home side have confirmed absentees in Ismaila Sarr (AFCON), Daniel Munoz (knee), Daichi Kamada (hamstring), Cheick Doucoure (knee), Chadi Riad (knee) and Caleb Kporha (back).
Spurs went down to Liverpool at home last weekend and finished with nine men, so Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero sit this game out through suspension.
Richarlison netted in that reverse and will hope for a start now, while boss Frank remains without injured stars Kota Takai (thigh), Dominic Solanke (ankle), James Maddison (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Destiny Udogie (thigh), as well as AFCON duo Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma.
The stats
Spurs lost 1-0 away and 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season, but the Lilywhites have never lost consecutive away league games against the Eagles before.
Crystal Palace have failed to win in four games, conceding 10 goals.
Tottenham have won just two from the last nine in all competitions, with only two clean sheets.
Over 2.5 goals has landed in seven of Palace's previous nine games and nine of Spurs' last 10.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has netted 23 goals in his last 31 Premier League starts at Selhurst Park.
The latest Crystal Palace vs Tottenham odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
It is hard to be enthusiastic about the hopes of either side collecting maximum points in this London derby.
Palace exhibited plenty of fight in the League Cup trip to Arsenal in midweek, but made their exit on penalties and so it is four games without a win now.
Tottenham's three-game unbeaten run to start December is but a fading memory after an abysmal 3-0 reverse at Nottingham Forest and the home loss to Liverpool that saw them finish with nine men.
Away London derbies against teams above them in the table do not tend to end well for Spurs, with just one win in 19 attempts alongside a dozen defeats.
The Eagles meanwhile have conceded seven goals in two league games recently and have won only two of eight Premier League assignments here this season.
Given the regularity with which over 2.5 goals has landed in games featuring these teams – 16 of the last 19 combined – that seems the safest play here.
