English Premier League action sees Crystal Palace taking on Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on December 29th at 00:30. Crystal Palace, currently 9th in the standings, are looking to rebound from a two-match losing streak. They hold a psychological advantage over Tottenham Hotspur, remaining unbeaten in their last five home matches against them, with three wins and two draws. However, they face significant challenges with seven key players from their midfield and defense sidelined due to injuries, forcing a defensive reshuffle. Tottenham Hotspur, ranked 14th, are in a slump, having lost three consecutive matches across all competitions. Their situation is further compounded by a long list of absences, including ten injured players and suspensions for Romero and Udogie. The absence of Maddison, their creative midfield linchpin, who is out for the season, severely impacts their squad depth. The prediction suggests a tight contest between two teams with depleted squads. Crystal Palace typically employs a defensive counter-attacking strategy, relying on set pieces and the target play of Mateta. Tottenham Hotspur, also weakened, is expected to adopt a defensive approach, aiming for counter-attacks. Recent head-to-head encounters have resulted in low-scoring affairs, indicating a cautious tactical approach. With vulnerabilities in both defenses and a low margin for error, set pieces and transitions are likely to be decisive. The match is anticipated to be closely fought, with a low-scoring outcome or a draw being the most probable result. The recommendation is Tottenham Hotspur +0.25.