The Premier League serves up a fascinating London derby this weekend as Crystal Palace prepare to welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurst Park. The match, scheduled for Sunday, December 28, promises high stakes for both sides as they look to climb the league table. Palace, sitting in a respectable ninth place, will aim to solidify their position, while Spurs, languishing in 14th, desperately need points to revive their campaign.
Match Details and Where to Watch
The crucial encounter is set for Sunday, December 28. For fans in India, the kick-off time is a prime-time 10:00 PM IST. American viewers can tune in at 11:30 AM ET. The iconic Selhurst Park will be the battleground, with Jarred Gillett appointed as the referee. James Bell will oversee proceedings from the VAR booth.
In India, the match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network. For digital streaming, subscribers can catch all the action on the JioHotstar app. Fans in the United States have multiple options, including USA Network, fuboTV, and Peacock.
Team News, Injuries, and Predicted Lineups
Both teams face significant selection headaches due to injuries, suspensions, and international duty. Crystal Palace will be without the services of Ismaila Sarr, who is away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Their injury list is lengthy, featuring Daichi Kamada, Daniel Munoz, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad, and Caleb Kporha. Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is managing a knee issue but is expected to start.
Tottenham Hotspur's squad is arguably more depleted. They will miss the suspended duo of Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero. The AFCON has claimed Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma. Furthermore, a host of players are sidelined with long-term injuries, including key figures like James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, and Kota Takai.
The confirmed starting lineups present a mix of experience and youth. Crystal Palace are likely to field: Dean Henderson; J Lerma, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton, Will Hughes; Nathaniel Clyne, Yeremy Pino, Justin Devenny, Tyrick Mitchell; Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Tottenham's expected eleven is: Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence; Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray; Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, Randal Kolo Muani; Richarlison.
AI Predictions and Historical Context
Artificial intelligence models are leaning towards a home victory, citing Palace's stability and Spurs' extensive absentee list. Grok's prediction is a 2-1 win for Crystal Palace, suggesting Mateta will be decisive against a weakened Tottenham defense. Similarly, ChatGPT forecasts a 2-1 result in favour of Palace, highlighting their strong home form and potent counter-attacking threat.
History, however, favours the visitors. In the overall head-to-head record, Tottenham Hotspur have dominated with 32 victories. Crystal Palace have won 12 of their past meetings, while 14 matches have ended in a draw. This historical weight adds an extra layer of intrigue to the Sunday night fixture.
With Palace seeking to capitalize on their home advantage and Tottenham determined to overcome an injury crisis, this Premier League derby is poised to be a compelling tactical battle. The points are vital for both clubs as they approach the busy festive period in English football.
