Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace are set to square off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a Premier League showdown that carries added significance, with both clubs carefully managing their squads ahead of upcoming cup finals.
Spurs, under the guidance of head coach Ange Postecoglou, come into the fixture after a commanding performance over two legs against Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League semifinals. The North London side cruised through to the final thanks to dominant displays home and away. However, their domestic form has been far less convincing. A 1-1 draw away at West Ham United last weekend summed up what has been a frustrating and inconsistent Premier League campaign.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have experienced something of a renaissance since the appointment of Oliver Glasner. The Eagles secured their place in the FA Cup final last month, providing a major boost to the club and its supporters. But like Spurs, Palace were also held to a 1-1 draw in their most recent league outing, this time against relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, a result that halted their momentum slightly.
With both clubs having one eye firmly fixed on their respective finals—Tottenham in the Europa League and Palace in the FA Cup—Sunday’s clash is likely to see both managers rotate and protect key players, especially those carrying knocks or returning from injuries.
Injury Updates and Team News – Tottenham
Tottenham continue to battle with a number of fitness concerns heading into this match. Captain Heung-Min Son, who has missed the last five matches due to a foot injury, remains a major doubt for the weekend. The club is hopeful he’ll be available for the Europa League final, but his return on Sunday is considered unlikely.
Ange Postecoglou confirmed in his pre-match press conference that most of his squad came through Thursday’s Europa League clash unscathed. However, he acknowledged the toll that the artificial pitch took on his players physically.
“Everyone got through Thursday okay,” Postecoglou told reporters. “We’re half hopeful that Sonny can get some minutes tomorrow, but he’ll be the only one we’re considering bringing back. The pitch in Norway really took it out of the players—it’s fair to say they’re sore.”
The Spurs boss also ruled out the returns of Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison for the remainder of the campaign, saying that while they’re both pushing hard to be fit, time simply isn’t on their side. “If we had another two weeks, potentially Bergvall could play. I’m sure he and Madders will try to get the strip on, but it’s been that kind of season—nothing’s run smoothly,” Postecoglou lamented.
Radu Dragusin has also been ruled out for the rest of the season, further reducing Tottenham’s defensive options.
Tottenham’s Expected Lineup
Starting XI: Vicario; Spence, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Gray; Odobert, Kulusevski, Tel; Solanke.
Bench: Kinsky (GK), Porro, Romero, Davies, Bentancur, Bissouma, Johnson, Richarlison, Moore.
Postecoglou is expected to rotate, bringing in youth and fresh legs. Archie Gray and Mathys Tel are set to start, while Cristian Romero and Richarlison—both on hefty weekly wages—are likely to be rested to ensure they’re fully fit for the final.
Crystal Palace Team News
Palace are also managing injuries carefully ahead of their Wembley showdown. Talented young midfielder Adam Wharton is the most notable absentee. He picked up an ankle injury during the draw with Forest and won’t be available this weekend. However, manager Oliver Glasner is optimistic about his availability for the FA Cup final.
“No, unfortunately he’s not available,” Glasner said of Wharton. “If all goes to plan, he’ll rejoin full training next week ahead of the final. He’s the only one not available. All the others are fit.”
He elaborated on the nature of the injury: “The ligament is slightly damaged, and the pain is too much for this game. We’re confident he’ll be ready for the final, but Sunday is too soon.”
Meanwhile, Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad have been ruled out for the remainder of the season, while goalkeeper Matt Turner returns to the squad after being ineligible last weekend due to his loan terms against parent club Nottingham Forest.
Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup
Starting XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze.
Bench: Turner (GK), Ward, Clyne, Chilwell, Kamada, Devenny, Esse, Franca, Nketiah.
Glasner is expected to maintain continuity in his lineup despite the looming FA Cup final, believing consistency is key to keeping his players sharp. Will Hughes should slot into midfield in place of Wharton, while Jefferson Lerma is tipped to add energy and steel in the middle of the park.
This approach leaves high-earning players like Daichi Kamada, Ben Chilwell, and Eddie Nketiah on the bench once again, with all three hoping to impress if given a chance before the big day at Wembley.
A Tactical Chess Match in the Capital
With both clubs juggling priorities, Sunday’s fixture might not deliver peak intensity, but it promises to be a fascinating tactical encounter. Spurs will be keen to build momentum ahead of their European final, while Palace will look to maintain their strong form under Glasner and avoid unnecessary risks before their biggest game in years.
Whether it ends up being a high-scoring affair or a cautious contest dictated by rotation and injuries, all eyes will still be on the teamsheets, with fans eager to see who makes the cut—and who’s being saved for silverware.
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