Tottenham Hotspur will attempt to continue their excellent run of form when they welcome Crystal Palace to White Hart Lane for an all-London affair in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.
Mauricio Pochettino's side are very much in the Premier League title race with 12 games left, while they are also targeting Europa League glory. Palace, on the other hand, have been dangerously out of form since the start of 2016.
Tottenham
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Even the most ardent of Tottenham supporters would not have dreamed that their team would be in the Premier League title race at this stage of the season. It was supposed to be a campaign where the capital side pushed for the top four, but they are currently level on points (51) with league leaders Leicester City after an excellent run of results.
Indeed, Pochettino's side will enter this weekend's FA Cup fixture off the back of two impressive results across two competitions. They recorded a 2-1 win over Manchester City in the league last weekend to make it five straight victories, before holding Fiorentina to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their last-32 clash in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Spurs have not been beaten in any competition since losing 1-0 at home to Leicester on January 13, but there is a slight worry that Pochettino will struggle to balance his squad in the final months of the campaign. Chasing three trophies is what the club would want, but something might well have to give. It is widely accepted that Spurs are the fittest team in the division, however, and the numbers back that up.
Spurs have not lifted the FA Cup since the 1990-91 season, but they have won the competition on eight occasions. They needed a replay to beat Leicester in the third round earlier this season, but made light work of Colchester United in the fourth round to book their spot in the last 16.
The fixtures are coming thick and fast, however, and it would not be a surprise to see Pochettino shuffle his pack on Sunday. Changes were made for the Europa League clash at Fiorentina on Thursday, but with the second leg to come next week, balancing what is actually quite a small squad will be the name of the game for the Argentine.
There is no question that winning the Premier League would be seen as a far greater achievement than lifting the FA Cup, but Tottenham will fancy their chances of progressing this weekend against a Palace team that are seriously struggling for form.
Recent form: DWLDWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWD
Palace
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As the end of 2015 approached, Palace were being mentioned as outside challengers for a top-four finish in the Premier League. Alan Pardew's presence at Selhurst Park and a team that played open and expansive football left the fans dreaming, but the capital side have only won twice since the turn of the year and both of those victories were in the FA Cup.
Palace have had to overcome two Premier League teams to reach round five - first beating Southampton 2-1 away on January 9, before recording a 1-0 win over Stoke City at the end of the month. England's oldest cup competition has been kind to Pardew in recent weeks and there is no question that the club will welcome a break from their struggles in the league.
Incredibly, Palace have not collected all three points in the top flight since winning 2-1 at Stoke City on December 19, which left the club just outside the top four on goal difference. Since then, they have been beaten on six occasions and went on a five-game run without finding the back of the net. Injuries have hit the team hard, especially in the final third, but they are still 13th in the table and not in any immediate danger of being dragged into the mix.
Unlike Spurs, Palace have never won the FA Cup, but they did reach the final in 1990. A 3-3 draw with Manchester United at Wembley brought a replay and they were beaten 1-0 by the Red Devils five days later. In truth, this is not a competition that Palace have prioritised over the last few years, such is the financial reward for each position in the league.
"We need to win a game. We don't want a replay and we're going there to win," were the words spoken by Pardew at his press conference ahead of the match. The same can also be said for Spurs, who could do without a replay due to their own crowded fixture list.
Palace have actually only beaten Spurs once in the last five meetings between the two teams, but they impressed during a 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane earlier this season and with important players returning, Pardew's side could be ready to spring a surprise.
Recent form: LWWLWW
Recent form (all competitions): LLWLDL
Team News
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Pochettino left the likes of Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier out of his XI for the Fiorentina match, but all three are expected to return for the clash at White Hart Lane.
Kyle Walker is also expected to be given the nod at right-back, while Danny Rose could replace Ben Davies on the opposite side.
Dele Alli might well be taken out of the firing line ahead of what is a busy run of matches, which could see Nacer Chadli, who started up top against Fiorentina, switch to a wide midfield role. Michel Vorm is also expected to keep his place between the sticks.
As for Palace, Pardew has said that his squad "is healthier" following a host of injury problems, although left-back Pape Souare will miss out after picking up a red card in the 2-1 defeat against Watford last weekend.
James McArthur and Jason Puncheon remain long-term absentees, but Yohan Cabaye is back to full fitness.
The big team news involves Yannick Bolasie, however, with the attacker back to fitness following a hip problem. Pardew remained coy when asked whether the 26-year-old would start, but it is widely thought that he will be in the XI.
Bakary Sako has also recovered from a hamstring complaint, while Sunday will also see Emmanuel Adebayor return to Spurs for the first time since having his contract cancelled in September.
Spurs possible starting lineup:
Vorm; Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dembele, Dier; Chadli, Eriksen, Son; Kane
Palace possible starting lineup:
Speroni; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly; Cabaye, Mutch; Sako, Zaha, Bolasie; Adebayor
Head To Head
As mentioned, Spurs recorded a 1-0 victory when the two sides met in the Premier League at White Hart Lane earlier this season, while Pochettino's side were also 3-1 winners at Selhurst Park in the league last month.
The two teams have not met in the FA Cup since January 2004 and it was Spurs that triumphed 3-0 on that occasion.
In total, the pair have met on 47 occasions in all competitions. Spurs have 24 wins to their name, Palace 10, while the remaining 13 fixtures have ended in a share of the spoils.
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We say: Spurs 2-2 Palace
Neither manager will want to entertain the possibility of a replay, especially Spurs, who are active in three competitions.
If this were a Premier League match, we would be backing the home team to win, but Palace can play without the pressure of poor league form and the return of key players in the final third should be enough to see them claim a draw.
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