Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Saturday, 17:30
BT Sport 1

Eagles looking to stay strong after the interval

Palace will be aiming to reproduce the performance of their last home game when they held another of the Premier League's high-fliers, Arsenal, to a 2-2 draw.
However, those goals - both penalties - remain the only ones they have scored at Selhurst Park this season with a lack of firepower looking a real weakness for boss Roy Hodgson.
Last weekend, when they were also competitive away to Chelsea before losing 3-1, Hodgson opted for pace up front by playing Wilfried Zaha, whose form has dipped after an explosive start to the campaign, and Andros Townsend.
That game also helped highlight another of Palace's flaws. Level after an hour, they were eventually worn down by the better side - not for the first time. The stats show they've conceded only three first-half goals but 13 after the interval. While more in the second should always expected, the gap between the two figures is too wide.
Hodgson has named an unchanged squad for this match but will go into it knowing Palace have lost their last six to Tottenham (the last four all by 1-0 scorelines).

Tough schedule

This will be Spurs' fifth game in 13 days but manager Mauricio Pochettino appears to have handled that busy schedule - and a number of injuries - well. He's managed to rotate his squad through three different competitions, picking up three wins, losing only to Manchester City.
Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli look fit again after spells out, either through injury or choice, while Harry Kane has rediscovered his sharpness in recent games, looking hard to handle against both Wolves and PSV over the last week. With Lucas Moura in good form and Heung-min Son back up to speed following his spell away with Korea at the start of the season, Tottenham's key attacking players are fit and firing.
At the other end of the pitch, things haven't looked so rosy with Jan Vertonghen's absence being felt. They've looked vulnerable with Wolves creating plenty against them last weekend and silly mistakes being made in other games, such as the PSV one in midweek. In front of the defence, Mousa Dembele has now joined Vertonghen and Danny Rose on the sidelines, but at least Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama are back in training and in with a chance of facing Palace.
Spurs have won six of seven away from home so far, four of those victories coming by a one-goal margin. They've also won all seven games against the teams who currently occupy the bottom half of the table.

Worthy favourites

Given the contrasting fortunes of the two teams so far this season, it's no surprise to see Spurs odds-on to win the game. They are at 1.86 with Palace 4.80 to notch their first home win of the season.
The draw can be backed at 3.80.
Personally, I'm struggling to look past Spurs, although I'm hardly racing to get involved at the price.

Goals on the cards

I'd prefer to play over 2.5 goals at similar odds - 1.84. The flip side is on offer at 2.16.
While this has happened in only four of Palace's 11 games, it's weighed in seven times with Tottenham and I think the outcome of this game is more about how they perform.
That defence has worried me in recent weeks but up front things look much healthier with Kane in particular catching the eye over the same period. With his supply chain improving with the return of key men, I can see him adding to his tally against a defence which has conceded at least twice in four of the last five games.

5/2 combination

But while the over 2.5 goals is tempting, for my best bet and I'm going to combine my penchant for a Spurs win with both teams to score which produces a much more tempting price of 5/2 with the Sportsbook.
Tottenham's shaky-looking defence can be breached by a side which has scored against both Arsenal and Chelsea in the past fortnight, while Spurs have already conceded at Brighton, Newcastle and Wolves on the road this season.
The most likely scoreline here is 2-1 which is on offer at 9.60 in the correct-score market.

Same Game Multi

I'll take a chance on Harry Winks being carded to produce a handily-priced Same Game Multi.
The young midfielder has collected two yellows in his last five league appearances and is likely to be one of those charged with dealing with any counter attacks which will look to make the most of Zaha and Townsend's pace.
Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score takes that price to 13.84.

Opta fact

Tottenham have won more away Premier League games in 2018 than any other side (11). Only once have Spurs won more top-flight away games in a single calendar year (17 in 1960).
RECOMMENDED BETS
1pt Spurs to win & both teams to score @ 5/2 (Sportsbook)
0.5pt Spurs to win 2-1 @ 9.6

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