Crystal Palace vs Tottenham: Glasner eyes top-six return as Spurs hunt foundation for survival | OneFootball

Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur meet at Selhurst Park on Sunday with both sides looking to use the fixture as a form of reset after a bruising run of results.

Neither team arrives in south London in convincing shape, yet the context of the match suggests an open and potentially chaotic contest.

For Crystal Palace, the past few weeks have tested the limits of their squad depth and physical resilience.

European commitments, domestic cup runs and a compressed schedule have stretched Oliver Glasner’s options and dulled the sharpness that defined their earlier league form.

That fatigue was evident again in midweek as Palace pushed Arsenal all the way in the Carabao Cup before exiting on penalties.

The disappointment of that defeat was compounded by the manner of it, with Palace expending significant energy only to come away empty-handed.

However, the silver lining is that one competition is now removed from an already demanding calendar.

With fewer midweek distractions, Palace can refocus on the Premier League, where their performances prior to this congested spell had been among the most consistent in the division.

Glasner will hope fresher legs and a clearer weekly rhythm allow them to rediscover the intensity and cohesion that had carried them into the European places.

Tottenham arrive facing a different but equally pressing challenge.

Their league position reflects a season of flashes rather than flow, with sustained fluency proving elusive under Thomas Frank.

Recent defeats have stalled any momentum, leaving Spurs searching for a platform to stabilise their campaign.

This trip to Selhurst Park offers that opportunity against a Palace side still managing the after-effects of fatigue and rotation.

Frank will view the match as a chance to impose structure and continuity on a Tottenham team that has often looked capable without being convincing.

Spurs’ performances have not been devoid of quality, but lapses in control and discipline have repeatedly undermined promising spells.

A more settled Palace schedule may arrive later, but this weekend still presents an opening for Spurs to dictate tempo and rhythm.

Palace’s energy, when available, can overwhelm opponents, while Tottenham’s attacking talent is capable of turning games quickly.

That combination points towards a contest shaped more by momentum swings than tactical caution.

The hope is that a lighter workload allows the Eagles’ league form to stabilise and climb again.

Spurs, however, will aim to use this match as a foundation for sustained improvement rather than another isolated response.

With both sides desperate for respite and confidence, the conditions are set for a volatile afternoon.

Neutral observers may find it unpredictable, but for Palace and Tottenham, this fixture represents a chance to reset narratives that have begun to drift.