Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur
Ok here is my prediction. I think Crystal Palace will be relegated from the Premier League this term with Patrick Vieira at the helm.
Easy for me to say but I just don’t think the Frenchman is ready to guide the Eagles to top-flight safety in the way his predecessor the veteran Roy Hodgson did for so long.
His recent signings certainly look promising on paper, particularly the acquisition from Lyon last week of centre-back Joachim Andersen and that of on-loan Conor Gallagher who netted twice in a fine 2-2 draw at West Ham last time out.
But after opening draws with newly-promoted Brentford and the Hammers, is his new side ready to go further and create Premier League 2021 highlights which unseat the early league leaders?
Talking Points
We’ll know on Saturday lunchtime when Spurs head to the Palace.
It’s a meeting of two bosses at new clubs – Vieira against opponents who were archrivals during his near nine years (1996-2005) in an Arsenal shirt.
How he would love to guide his new employers to their first win in the league under his stewardship. Certainly, they made West Ham look rather ordinary for spells 11 days ago, although this should be a tougher test.
Tottenham have had a perfect start to the season in their first three games with three wins, three goals scored, and none conceded.
However, no one of a lily white persuasion believes they are genuine title contenders and knows those results may well just be papering over the cracks temporarily.
The fact that Harry Kane has stayed put is naturally a massive boost but it will take more than even the England captain if Tottenham are going to make progress following a recent upheaval at the club.
Still, the only top-flight side with a 100% record in the new campaign will be hopeful of making it four wins out of four when they go to the London neighbours.
New boss Nuno Espirito Santo will not have a full squad at his disposal mind after the South American controversy the other day.
Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero are both in hot water after going against the club’s wishes to play in the abandoned World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina.
The match in Sao Paulo was halted in the seventh minute when local health officials entered the pitch and accused the two Tottenham players alongside two from Aston Villa of violating COVID-19 protocols in order to enter the country.
Regardless of that intervention, their return to the UK was always going to be a concern given all of mainland South America is on the UK Government’s red list, and it has emerged that Tottenham did not give Lo Celso and Romero permission to join up with Argentina.
All three will miss this encounter which, given it’s a lunchtime fixture off the back of an international break – and that Spurs had many more players on international duty – could play into Palace’s hands.
Whether Vieira and his players can take advantage of that remains to be seen. Regardless of the result though, I don’t think his and the club’s partnership is destined to be a long-term one.
History
Tottenham have an impressive recent record against Palace.
Indeed, the Eagles’ recent league form 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 three seasons ago.
Palace have beaten Tottenham only once in their past 14 Premier League fixtures (D2, L11).
Until the final match of the final day of 2019/20, Spurs had won nine successive league meetings against the Eagles, conceding just once during that run.
Last season, this fixture ended 1-1 with Kane opening the scoring for the then league leaders before Jeffrey Schlupp netted an equaliser – a match I covered and recall a late Hugo Lloris error.
The return fixture saw Tottenham run out 4-1 home winners, courtesy of two goals apiece from Harry Kane and Gareth Bale.
Overall, Tottenham have defeated Crystal Palace 32 times with the Eagles winning on 12 occasions and an additional 15 draws.
Betting Tip
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Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur | Tottenham Hotspur First Half Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.09 |
| September 11, 19:30 (GMT+8) |
If you take a punt on Palace with the SBOTOP Premier League 2021 betting odds, then you will have a nice afternoon.
You can back the hosts 1X2 @ 4.20 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.07.
Spurs are firm favourites priced at both 1X2 @ 1.86 and Asian Handicap – 0.75 @ 2.13.
A re-run of last season’s 1-1 draw encounter will pay out @ 6.00 with Correct Score.
I do expect goals and two goalless draws between the pair in the last 25 years suggests the same. Moreover, the odds include total goal 0-1 @ 3.05, 2-3 @ 1.90, 4-6 @ 3.85, as well as over 2.50 goals @ 2.05.
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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