Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur
As a Premier League observer of many years, I am beginning to wonder if this match may be an emotional farewell that we don’t actually realise yet.
Sure, it should be no major surprise when someone in their 70s decides to retire and there has certainly been no indication that it’s going to happen either.
Yet I have wondered for some weeks now if this could be the occasion when Roy Hodgson brings down the curtain on a career, marking the end of a season which saw him reach a milestone of 300 Premier League games as a manager.
As we look forward to a final weekend of Premier League 2020 highlights, I just wonder.
Talking Points
If this is to be his swansong, then now would be a good time to go out on a high.
The fact that he is winless in all three of his encounters as a manager against Jose Mourinho (D1, L2) is not the issue.
Hodgson had nothing left to prove long before he began turning around Palace’s fortunes in little under three years.
What would be fitting, however, is ensuring he is not in charge of a team who will equal a club league record of eight consecutive defeats if Spurs beat them on Sunday.
Thankfully for Palace, their sterling work before the season was halted due to COVID-19 has meant that the Eagles have had little to play for since the restart.
And to be fair, they have at times looked like their minds have long been on a summer holiday.
Indeed, they may be already planning for next season given they have just announced a new signing for the 2020-21 campaign.
This Sunday, Hodgson may have his captain back as Luka Milivojevic aims to return from a knee injury.
Mamadou Sakho is definitely out though, along with James Tomkins, Patrick van Aanholt, Gary Cahill and the suspended Christian Benteke.
Palace certainly have pride to play for as they have suffered nine successive league defeats against Tottenham – their longest losing streak versus a single opponent in top-flight history.
They have also not scored a league goal against them since a 3-1 defeat loss in January 2016, and that was an own goal.
With 30 league goals all season, only rock bottom Norwich have netted fewer, so it’s easy to see where Palace need to strengthen next term.
While they are a side out of form, Spurs are very much a side finishing with a flourish.
They are unbeaten in five league matches, winning the last three and have won four of their past five fixtures, as many as in their previous 13 games.
The bigger picture, of course, is that Spurs are guaranteed to finish with their lowest points total since 2008-09, so it is very clear Mourinho must strive for greater improvement in his first full season at the club.
This weekend, midfielder Dele Alli is available, having returned to training this week following a four-game absence with a hamstring issue.
Tanguy Ndombele, who was their big signing last summer, is again ruled out because of injury.
This encounter represents a final chance for both clubs to bow out on a high. Back to where I started though, with Hodgson.
Of course, I may be talking rubbish but if this is to be his farewell, then let me finish by acknowledging one of the gentlemen of the game.
He is an often undervalued coach whose low points were in this SBOBET author’s view, held personally against him.
He was never given enough time at Liverpool where he took over a below-par side, while players let him down as his England reign came to an abrupt end with the national team’s debacle against Iceland in 2016.
Whether my gut instinct is correct or not, he is one of the game’s genuine English talents and his achievements should be lauded.
History
Spurs were pretty four-midable when these two sides met earlier in the season.
And as we’ve heard, Palace’s recent league record against Tottenham doesn’t make pleasant reading, even if the Eagles did beat an understrength Spurs 2-0 at Selhurst Park in the FA Cup last season.
Palace have beaten Tottenham only once in their past 13 Premier League fixtures (D1, L11).
Spurs have won nine successive league meetings against the Eagles, conceding just once during that run.
The first official fixture at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was Spurs’ 2-0 over Palace last April.
Son Heung-Min has scored five goals in eight games against Palace and in all four of his Premier League home games against them with Spurs going on to win each contest.
Betting Tip
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Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur | Total Goals 4-6 @ 3.25 |
| July 26, 23:00 (GMT+8) |
Palace are guaranteed to finish 14th but could move to 13th with victory and are priced 1X2 @ 5.60 with the Premier League betting odds.
Spurs, who are certain to be in seventh spot yet could finish sixth, are available to back @ 1.54.
I am going elsewhere for my prediction, however,
Tottenham’s last four final day league games have produced 27 goals – almost seven goals per game – while they have kept just two away league clean sheets this term.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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