Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs Crystal Palace: Roberto De Zerbi Faces James Maddison Injury Concern After Chelsea Victory
Tottenham Hotspur have struggled to string together consecutive victories in recent seasons, making a run of three successive Premier League wins an even more difficult achievement for the North London club. However, Roberto De Zerbi now has an opportunity to guide Spurs towards a milestone they have not reached since February 2025.
The last time Tottenham won three Premier League matches consecutively was under former manager Ange Postecoglou. Now, De Zerbi could match that achievement when his side welcomes Crystal Palace to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Spurs have experienced a remarkable turnaround after enduring a difficult opening to their campaign. Following their first victory of the season against Coventry City, Tottenham produced another impressive performance to defeat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, securing a second consecutive win at a ground where they have historically struggled.
The victory over their London rivals has lifted Tottenham to 14th in the Premier League table, providing fresh optimism after a disappointing start that had left them bottom of the standings before their triumph against Coventry.
With confidence gradually returning to the squad, another victory against Crystal Palace could move Tottenham closer to the top half of the table and give De Zerbi further encouragement about the direction his team is heading.
Nevertheless, the Italian manager may have to make some important selection decisions before Saturday’s encounter, particularly following the injury concern surrounding James Maddison.
James Maddison Injury Could Force De Zerbi Into a Change
Tottenham have received a timely boost from the return of several important players, with De Zerbi benefiting from having more options available during the club’s recent winning run.
Dejan Kulusevski has begun working his way back into action after spending an extended period on the sidelines, making substitute appearances in each of Tottenham’s last two matches as he continues rebuilding his match fitness.
Maddison has also played an important role in the recent victories, starting both games despite only recently returning to the starting lineup. However, the midfielder’s latest injury setback has raised questions about whether he will be available against Crystal Palace.
The England international was forced off five minutes into the second half against Chelsea, creating immediate concern among Tottenham supporters. However, his decision to leave Stamford Bridge without crutches or a protective boot offered some encouragement that the problem might not be as serious as initially feared.
Speaking after the match, De Zerbi expressed hope that Maddison had not suffered a significant injury, while acknowledging the importance of the midfielder to his plans.
The Tottenham manager explained that the club would need to carry out medical examinations before determining the full extent of the problem. He also described Maddison as a special player whom the team needs.
With another important fixture approaching, De Zerbi is unlikely to take unnecessary risks with the midfielder, particularly after his recent return from injury.
Consequently, Tottenham could make changes to their starting eleven against Palace, even though the manager might otherwise have preferred to maintain the same team that delivered such an impressive performance against Chelsea.
Pedro Porro Could Return to Tottenham’s Starting Defence
Antonin Kinsky is expected to retain his position in goal, with Tottenham’s available options potentially influencing De Zerbi’s decision to keep the young goalkeeper in the starting lineup.
There could, however, be a significant change in the defensive department following Pedro Porro’s return to action.
Archie Gray has performed admirably when deployed at right-back and in midfield, demonstrating his versatility during Tottenham’s recent matches. Nevertheless, Porro’s availability could see the youngster drop out of the starting eleven against Crystal Palace.
The Spanish defender featured for approximately 26 minutes, plus stoppage time, during the victory over Chelsea. Having gained valuable minutes following his return, Porro could now be ready to reclaim his usual position on the right side of the defence.
His attacking qualities and ability to provide width could prove particularly valuable as Tottenham look to maintain their momentum and secure another three points.
Meanwhile, Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke are expected to retain their places in central defence after producing encouraging performances against Chelsea.
Andy Robertson is also likely to continue at left-back while Destiny Udogie remains unavailable, giving Tottenham a potentially familiar defensive structure heading into the weekend.
Although Porro’s return would provide a welcome boost, De Zerbi will still need to assess his players’ fitness before confirming his final selection.
Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes Expected to Continue in Midfield
Tottenham supporters were given an encouraging glimpse of the partnership between Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes during the victory over Chelsea.
The two summer arrivals operated together in midfield, with their respective performances offering further evidence of why the club invested heavily in strengthening that area of the team.
Tottenham reportedly spent £185 million on the pair during the summer transfer window, underlining the importance of both players to the club’s long-term plans.
Their display against Chelsea suggested that they could become an important part of De Zerbi’s preferred midfield combination, with Tonali providing balance and Fernandes offering additional energy and creativity.
Unless the manager identifies a fitness concern or tactical reason to make a change, the duo should have a strong chance of retaining their starting positions against Crystal Palace.
However, competition for places is beginning to increase as Tottenham gradually welcome more players back into contention.
Gray remains a useful alternative in midfield, while Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall could also challenge for opportunities as the season progresses.
Bentancur, however, still has one more match of his suspension to serve, limiting De Zerbi’s options for the upcoming encounter.
If Maddison is ruled out, the Tottenham manager could consider adjusting his midfield structure by moving Fernandes into a more advanced position and bringing Gray into the starting lineup alongside Tonali.
Such a change would allow Spurs to maintain their midfield balance without necessarily disrupting the partnership that impressed against Chelsea.
Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus Could Keep Their Places
Tottenham’s attacking options could also be affected by Maddison’s potential absence, with De Zerbi needing to decide how best to maintain creativity and attacking threat against Palace.
If the England international is unavailable, Fernandes could move into the number 10 position, giving him greater responsibility for linking the midfield with the forwards.
That adjustment would potentially allow Gray to operate alongside Tonali in a deeper role, offering Tottenham an alternative structure without requiring significant changes across the entire team.
Mathys Tel is expected to retain his place on the left wing after delivering an impressive performance against Chelsea.
The young forward has an opportunity to build on that display and establish greater consistency as Tottenham look to extend their winning run.
Mohammed Kudus could also continue on the opposite flank, with his attacking ability offering another important option for a Spurs side hoping to maintain the confidence generated by their recent results.
However, the biggest question in attack concerns the centre-forward position.
Dominic Solanke Could Replace Omar Marmoush Up Front
De Zerbi could consider making a change at centre-forward after Omar Marmoush missed a significant opportunity during the first half of Tottenham’s victory over Chelsea.
Although Marmoush has offered attacking potential, the missed chance could encourage the manager to reconsider his options for the Crystal Palace encounter.
Dominic Solanke is among the players who could benefit from that decision, with the striker potentially returning to the starting lineup as Tottenham search for another convincing attacking performance.
Solanke’s involvement would give De Zerbi an opportunity to assess a different approach in the final third, particularly if Tottenham expect to create several chances against Palace.
However, the final decision will depend on the manager’s tactical plans, the players’ fitness levels and how he believes his side can exploit the opposition’s weaknesses.
With Tottenham beginning to show signs of improvement after their difficult start, De Zerbi will be eager to avoid unnecessary disruption while ensuring his team remains competitive.
The potential return of Porro, the encouraging midfield partnership between Tonali and Fernandes, and the growing availability of previously injured players all provide reasons for optimism.
Nevertheless, Maddison’s fitness could prove decisive in determining the final shape of Tottenham’s starting eleven.
Spurs now have an opportunity to secure three consecutive Premier League victories for the first time since February 2025. A win against Crystal Palace would represent another important step forward under De Zerbi, although the Italian manager must first decide whether to trust the players who defeated Chelsea or make tactical adjustments to account for his squad’s latest fitness concerns.