Thursday, 5 March 2026 | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | 8:00pm GMT
The Stakes
This is no ordinary London derby. Tottenham Hotspur lifted the Europa League and Crystal Palace triumphed in the FA Cup last May, but fast forward to the present and the pair are spending their spring attempting to distance themselves from a relegation battle. What was supposed to be a season of consolidation for both clubs has turned into something far more harrowing.
Spurs in Freefall
The crisis at N17 is hard to overstate. At risk of setting a new record for their longest-ever Premier League winless run, Tottenham host Crystal Palace in their third straight London derby — now without a victory in 10 top-flight games after Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Fulham.
New manager Igor Tudor has walked straight into the fire. Just two games into his tenure, the Croatian delivered a scathing assessment of his own team, admitting they are “lacking” in every department. It’s an honesty that will either galvanise or terrify the fanbase — possibly both. After West Ham’s win midweek, Spurs sit just one point above the relegation zone. The Europa League winners of ten months ago are genuinely staring down the trapdoor.
The Injury Crisis
The situation in the treatment room borders on the absurd. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence are all injured, and captain Cristian Romero serves the last game of his suspension. Fans are crying out for Mathys Tel to start from the first whistle after his positive impact at Craven Cottage, with Richarlison also pressing for a more prominent role. Tudor will need creative solutions just to field a competitive XI.
Palace — Hardly Convincing, But Improving
Crystal Palace arrive in north London in marginally better health. The Eagles had been on a three-match unbeaten run before a narrow 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, a game in which Maxence Lacroix’s controversial red card played a significant part. His suspension here is a real blow — mirroring Spurs’ own loss of Romero at centre-back, meaning both sides are deprived of their most important defender.
On the positive side for Palace, they had lost nine consecutive Premier League trips to Tottenham before their 2-0 victory at this ground last May — proof that momentum in this fixture can shift quickly.
Defensive Horrors Ahead?
The numbers suggest goals are likely. Tottenham have conceded at least two goals in eight consecutive league games, and Palace have scored in five of their last six away matches. Neither side’s defence inspires confidence, and with both Romero and Lacroix absent, the backlines look even more vulnerable than usual.
Key Battle: Gallagher vs. His Former Club
Conor Gallagher has scored more Premier League goals against Crystal Palace than any other opponent — four in total. Back in the Premier League after a stint with Atlético Madrid, he arrives hungry to prove himself again. Facing his former club, expect him to be right at the heart of the action.
Spurs Predicted Lineup vs Crystal Palace
Spurs predicted line-up (4-2-2-2): Vicario, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Souza, Palhinha, Gallagher, Richarlison, Simons, Tel, Kolo Muani
Injured: Kudus, Bergvall, Bentancur, Davies, Udogie, Maddison, Kulusevski, Odobert, Spence
Suspended: Romero
Crystal Palace predicted line-up (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Riad; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Johnson; Guessand.
Verdict
This is a genuinely pivotal match for Tottenham. A home win would ease the pressure and give Tudor his first league victory as Spurs boss. But predicting Tottenham to win a Premier League game in 2026 has been nigh on impossible so far. Palace arrive with more confidence and the psychological edge from winning this fixture last season. Expect an open, nervy London derby with goals at both ends — and more drama than either set of supporters would like.
Prediction: Tottenham 1–2 Crystal Palace
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