Tottenham XI vs Crystal Palace: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Premier League | OneFootball

Tudor expected to make changes for must-win London derby

Igor Tudor has confirmed that Djed Spence will not be available for selection ahead of Tottenham’s crunch Premier League game at home to Crystal Palace.

Spurs’ defeat to Fulham leaves the north London club four points above the relegation zone and without a league win this year.

Thursday’s game is viewed as a must-win for Tudor’s side, and he is likely to make changes to the experimental team he fielded against Fulham.

Tudor opted for a four-man defence against Fulham, moving away from his favoured 3-4-2-1 formation as he tried to spark a reaction from his team after their 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in his first game in charge.

It was a decision that ultimately did not pay off, with Fulham taking a commanding two goal lead after 34 minutes, and Tudor may be advised to go back to what he knows against Palace

Part of Tudor’s decision to change formation was influenced by the loss of Spence to a calf injury, with midfielder Archie Gray moved to left-back in a move that brought a lot of pressure on Spurs’ backline.

Spence’s continued absence means teenage Brazilian left-back Souza may be handed his first start since completing a £13million move from Santos.

Fulham should have put the game out of sight, with Spurs mustering just one shot on target, and Tudor made an early triple change in the second half to try and alter the momentum.

Mathys Tel and Richarlison, who halved the deficit with a back-post header, were both impactful off the bench and could be in line to start against Palace.

Tel, in particular, has struggled for consistent game time this season, and he will hope his cameo at Craven Cottage has done enough to earn him a spot in the starting lineup.

Richarlison is pushing to start for Tottenham against Crystal Palace

John Walton/PA Wire

Kevin Danso could also come into the starting lineup against Palace, having been named on the bench last weekend.

Danso, who has just returned from a toe injury, has been one of Spurs’ more consistent performers this season.

So, with Tudor’s side shipping six goals in his first two games in charge, he could turn to the Austrian centre-back in search of some defensive solidity.

Spurs are in the midst of an injury crisis and remain without captain Cristian Romero as he serves the final game of his four-game suspension following his sending off against Manchester United.

Just two games into his tenure, Tudor is already under pressure to deliver results heading into tomorrow evening’s game.

Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-2-2): Vicario, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Souza, Palhinha, Bissouma, Kolo Muani, Simons, Richarlison, Solanke

Injured: Kudus, Bergvall, Bentancur, Davies, Udogie, Maddison, Kulusevski, Odobert, Spence

Suspended: Romero

Time and date: 8pm GMT on Thursday, March 5, 2026

How to watch: TNT Sports 1

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London