Erik Lamela, Serge Aurier and Fernando Llorente also absent for first match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Wednesday 3 April 2019 15:25, UK
Eric Dier, Erik Lamela, Serge Aurier and Fernando Llorente will all miss Tottenham's first game at their new stadium against Crystal Palace.
Dier (hip), Lamela, Aurier (both hamstring) and Llorente (concussion) are injured for the historic game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Midfielder Harry Winks could be involved though as he has overcome a groin problem.
Mamadou Sakho, who is sidelined with a knee injury, is Crystal Palace's only injury absentee ahead of the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night.
Any alterations from manager Roy Hodgson will be tactical, with the likes of James McArthur and Christian Benteke pushing to be involved from the start.
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Tottenham will be playing their first ever match in their new stadium - they were unbeaten in their last 19 league games at the old White Hart Lane (W17 D2), winning the last 14 in a row.
This match will see Spurs become the first club to play a home game at two different stadiums within a single Premier League season.
Mauricio Pochettino's have won their last seven Premier League meetings against Crystal Palace, six of them by a 1-0 scoreline - against no side have they won more consecutively in the competition (also 7 vs Man City and Swansea).
Crystal Palace are winless in their last six away league games against Spurs (D2 L4), failing to score in their last five. Their last league win at Spurs was in November 1997, 1-0 courtesy of a Neil Shipperley goal.
Tottenham have won 1-0 in each of their last five Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace, the longest run of consecutive identical results between two sides in the history of the competition.
Crystal Palace are looking to secure three consecutive away league wins for the first time since August 2015.
After a run of seven consecutive wins in Premier League London derby matches, Spurs have won just one of their last four such matches (D1 L2). Crystal Palace's only away London derby win this season was at Fulham on the opening weekend - the last top-flight campaign that saw them win two away London derbies was 1997-98 (vs Wimbledon and Spurs).
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has scored in each of his last three away Premier League games (4 goals in total). No player has ever scored in four consecutive Premier League away appearances for the Eagles.
It's the first game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and what a big game it is. If the scores go as I've predicted then Manchester United will win, Chelsea will win and Arsenal won on Monday Night.
From a side who were looking to win the Premier League, they are now in a big fight to finish in the top four. They've still got to go to Manchester City so you can more than likely take another game off, so this is a must-win game.
I can't think of a worse game to play as the first at your new stadium. Crystal Palace are one of the best counter-attacking sides about on their day. They are a big threat on the counter away from home.
This is another hard game for Spurs. They will be kicking themselves about the result at Anfield. There only looked like one winner as the game went on and, in the end, they lost the game. How many times have we said that about Spurs in the last year? I'm just going to go with Tottenham but I would not be surprised if they didn't win this game.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
Read Paul Merson's midweek Premier League predictions in full HERE!
