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Two London sides attempting to correct their respective wobbles meet under the lights at Selhurst Park on Sunday, and neither will fancy turning up with the mood of a team collecting a third straight Premier League defeat. Here’s our Bet Builder pick for Crystal Palace vs Tottenham, which has been placed with William Hill:
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Why this pick
Mateta is Palace’s top scorer with seven goals and is "coping really well" with fitness concerns. Palace create a huge volume of chances (13.5 shots per game), and Mateta takes the bulk of them (46 shots, 36 in the box). He faces a Tottenham defence that concedes 1.5 goals per away game, plays a risky offside trap, and is prone to individual errors. Given Spurs' open style on the road, Mateta will get chances.
Why this pick
Palace struggle to keep possession (46%) while Tottenham are very strong at stealing the ball. This dynamic forces Wharton into a high volume of defensive actions (30 tackles, 75 recoveries already). Facing skilful Spurs attackers who draw fouls, and with Palace prone to fouling in dangerous areas, Wharton is the likely candidate to commit a cynical challenge to stop a Spurs counter-attack.
Why this pick
Tottenham are the league’s aggressors, averaging 2.44 yellows per game with three red cards this season. Bergvall has a high foul rate (15 fouls in just 670 minutes) and has already been booked twice. His 49.3% duel success rate suggests he often mistimes challenges. In a heated derby atmosphere, his high-pressing role and "sprint-and-block" defensive duties make him a prime candidate for a booking.
This 40/1 Bet Builder leans on the stylistic clash at Selhurst Park. We back Mateta to exploit Spurs' porous away defence, while the midfield battle—aggressive Spurs pressing vs Palace's struggle for possession—sets the stage for both Wharton and Bergvall to fall foul of the referee in a heated derby.
It is a fixture that rarely requires extra spice—the venue provides plenty of that naturally—but the current context adds a sharpened edge to proceedings.
Crystal Palace sit eighth on 26 points, looking to bounce back from a draining EFL Cup exit to Arsenal and a patchy run of form. Tottenham, languishing in 14th on 22 points, arrive off the back of a bruising 2-1 loss to Liverpool where they finished with nine men. With both sides showcasing defensive vulnerabilities and a penchant for chaotic encounters, the stage is set for a fascinating tactical tussle.
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Bet Builder Tip
Jean-Philippe Mateta To Score
The case for Jean-Philippe Mateta finding the net is built on a convergence of volume, tactical opportunity, and fitness reassurance. Firstly, Oliver Glasner has firmly put any availability concerns to bed. The manager’s update that the striker is “coping really well” with his knee issue and that there is “no risk at all” is significant. Mateta isn’t just a participant; he is the absolute reference point for this Palace attack.
He is the club’s leading league scorer with seven goals, a return generated from a high volume of activity. Palace average 13.5 shots per game—significantly more than Tottenham’s 10.64—and Mateta is the primary trigger man, having taken 46 shots this season. Crucially, 36 of those attempts have come from inside the box. He isn’t wasting possession on hopeful long-range efforts; he gets on the end of moves in the danger zone, which aligns perfectly with a match where chances are expected to flow.
Tactically, this matchup looks tailor-made for his specific skillset. Tottenham play an aggressive offside trap and operate with a high line, yet they have a chronic weakness in avoiding individual errors. This combination is often fatal against a striker like Mateta, who thrives on direct service. Palace’s style involves playing long balls and attempting through balls often. If Palace’s creative midfielders—likely Pino and Devenny operating in the pockets—can bypass the initial press, Mateta will have ample space to run into behind a Spurs defence that has leaked 23 goals this season.
Furthermore, Tottenham’s away form is essentially an invitation for goals. Their last seven away league fixtures have all cleared the 2.5 goal line, and they concede an average of 1.50 goals on the road. The “sprint-and-block” transition defending mentioned by Thomas Frank suggests a Spurs backline that is often scrambling to recover. Against a striker who wins 2.4 aerial duels per game and dominates the penalty area, those frantic recovery moments often lead to loose balls or clear headers. With Spurs struggling to keep clean sheets and Palace consistently creating a high volume of chances (378 total shots this season), Mateta is perfectly placed to add to his tally.
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Adam Wharton To Be Carded
The midfield battle at Selhurst Park promises to be frantic, and Adam Wharton looks likely to be in the thick of a very physical script. While the youngster has only picked up two yellow cards in the Premier League so far this season, the specific tactical dynamics of this game drastically increase his booking potential.
The core issue for Wharton here is the nature of possession. Crystal Palace struggle to keep the ball, holding just 46% possession on average. Conversely, Tottenham are very strong at stealing the ball from the opposition. This creates a dangerous recipe for Palace’s central midfielders. If Spurs win the ball high up the pitch—as their aggressive style dictates—Wharton will be the primary firefighter tasked with stopping transitions before they reach the back three.
His defensive workload is already immense. Wharton has registered 30 tackles, 15 interceptions, and a massive 75 recoveries this season. He is constantly involved in winning the ball back, which naturally leads to a higher foul count (he has committed 9 fouls). Facing a Tottenham side that boasts skilful players who are adept at drawing fouls, particularly in central areas where players like Lucas Bergvall and Mohammed Kudus operate, Wharton will be forced into split-second decisions.
Moreover, Palace are weak at avoiding fouling in dangerous areas. In a heated derby atmosphere against a Spurs midfield that plays with high energy and aggressive pressing, Wharton is likely to be overworked. If he is left exposed by turnovers, a “professional” foul to stop a counter-attack becomes a very real possibility.
Lucas Bergvall To Be Carded
If Tottenham have a discipline problem—and the disciplinary table suggests they absolutely do—Lucas Bergvall is a prime candidate to find his name in the referee’s notebook on Sunday. Spurs have arguably the most aggressive disciplinary profile in the league, having already accumulated three red cards and averaging 2.44 yellow cards per game.
Bergvall, despite playing limited minutes (670 total), has already committed 15 fouls. That is a strikingly high foul-per-minute ratio, indicating a player who plays on the edge and is eager to impress with his physical commitment. He has picked up two yellow cards in just 13 appearances, further evidencing a tendency to mistime challenges or get drawn into unnecessary scraps.
Thomas Frank has emphasized the need for “cool heads” following the red card chaos against Liverpool, but in the heat of a London derby, young players often struggle to temper their aggression. Bergvall is expected to operate in the engine room, engaging directly with Palace’s physical midfield duo of Hughes and Wharton.
Tottenham’s defensive approach, described by the manager as “sprint-and-block” transition defending, requires midfielders to track back aggressively. Bergvall fits this mould, but his tackle success rate (49.3%) suggests he wins the ball cleanly less than half the time. Against a Palace side that draws fouls and looks to break quickly, Bergvall’s high-energy but occasionally rash style makes him a standout candidate for a card.
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