Tottenham have received a small but welcome boost ahead of their Premier League trip to Selhurst Park, with Crystal Palace dealing with a couple of injury concerns that could yet ease before kick-off.
As both sides prepare for a crucial clash, fitness updates from the Palace camp have added an extra layer of intrigue to a fixture that already carries plenty of pressure, especially for Spurs.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been speaking about the condition of defender Chris Richards, who picked up a painful knock to his foot in recent action.
The Austrian coach explained that Richards was stamped on and required stitches, but early signs suggest the injury is not as serious as first feared. Glasner admitted there is still some uncertainty over whether the defender will be ready in time to face Tottenham, but he remains hopeful.
With Palace operating with a very small squad, every available player matters, and Glasner made it clear that losing another body would be far from ideal.
He stressed that Palace currently have only 16 outfield players to work with, which leaves little room for rotation or further setbacks. Even if Richards is not fully ready for the Tottenham game, the hope inside the club is that he will at least be available for their following match against Fulham.
That cautious optimism offers Spurs a slight opening, even if Palace still expect to be competitive on the day.
Richards is not the only player Palace have been monitoring closely. Striker Eddie Nketiah was also forced off at half-time during Palace’s dramatic Carabao Cup quarterfinal defeat to Arsenal, a match that was both physically demanding and emotionally draining.
However, Glasner played down fears over the forward’s condition, describing the issue as a minor knock. He expressed confidence that Nketiah would recover in time to feature against Tottenham, which would be a significant boost for the Eagles given his energy and movement in attack.
While Palace appear quietly confident that key players will be fit, the wider conversation around this match has focused heavily on Tottenham’s struggles.
Spurs arrive in South London in poor form, having won just one of their last eight Premier League games. Confidence is low, results have been disappointing, and the pressure on manager Thomas Frank is increasing with every passing week.
This match represents Tottenham’s final fixture of 2025, and there is a strong feeling that they desperately need a positive result to avoid ending the year on another sour note.
Pundit Jeff Stelling has already weighed in with his thoughts, and his outlook will not bring much comfort to Tottenham supporters. While he acknowledged concerns over Palace’s thin squad and the quick turnaround after their cup defeat at the Emirates, he still believes the Eagles have enough to edge the contest.
Fatigue could be an issue for Palace, but Stelling feels Tottenham’s deeper problems may once again prove decisive.
He pointed out that Palace have already enjoyed success against Spurs this season and suggested that the momentum remains with the home side. Stelling questioned whether Tottenham have the belief or sharpness needed to turn things around, especially given how difficult 2025 has been for them domestically.
In his view, there is little to suggest Spurs will suddenly find the spark required to change their fortunes.
His prediction is a narrow 1-0 victory for Crystal Palace, a result that would deepen Tottenham’s troubles and pile even more pressure on Frank as the season moves into its decisive phase.
For Spurs, another defeat would not only damage morale but also leave them dangerously close to drifting further down the table.
Tottenham’s task is made even harder by their own injury problems. The club are currently without five players through injury, while midfielders Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma are away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
That leaves Frank with limited options and a squad stretched thin at a time when confidence is already fragile. In total, Spurs could be missing up to nine players for the trip to Selhurst Park, a worrying situation for any manager.
Despite this, there is a small hope that Tottenham’s players may be slightly fresher than Palace’s, given the Eagles’ midweek exertions in the cup.
Frank will be banking on that factor, along with a strong response from his remaining senior players, to give his side a fighting chance.
As kick-off approaches, both teams face questions about fitness, form, and belief. Palace will hope their injury worries fade, while Tottenham are searching for any sign of momentum.
With pressure mounting and patience wearing thin, this clash could prove pivotal for both sides as they look to close out the year on a more positive note.
