Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports

When Palace win the ball it's a case of can they find that pass and to get forward fast, or can Tottenham win the ball back quickly?

I feel like turnovers will play a huge part in this game tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

It's all getting a bit frantic now.

Richarlison tries to battle his way into the Palace box but is beaten. Jordan Ayew is then fouled as the Spurs forwards swarm him.

Tottenham's best opening so far.

Richarlison's first-time ball sends James Maddison away down the left. His low ball towards the penalty spot is hammered away by Jefferson Lerma.

Image source, Reuters

Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports

Edouard gets the shot away early and the keeper gets down well to his left.

But that will definitely give Crystal Palace some belief. They came into it low on confidence and have had a couple of chances early on.

Alex Howell
Football reporter at Selhurst Park

Palace have struggled to score goals in recent weeks as both Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze are out injured. They've started the match well here with chance for Ayew and Edouard lifting the crowd.

Another good save from Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario!

The ball is chipped into the box and allowed to run for Odsonne Edouard to gather turn and fire an effort that is stopped at full stretch.

A really nice little Palace move ends with Jordan Ayew firing a low shot at the near post that Guglielmo Vicario pushes aside. Prior to that, Will Hughes had gathered a flick from Odsonne Edouard but didn't have the pace to carry on into the box.

Image source, Getty Images

Anon: The next 10 games will be a big indication on whether Spurs are really title contenders so far this season they have played 7 teams in the bottom half of the league. But in their next 10 they will come up against 7 teams in the top half of the table.

John: One important factor to consider regarding a Spurs title challenge, is that they have twice as much time between games as all their main rivals. It'll therefore be easier for them to keep their players fitter, fresher and injury free.

Jordan Ayew is straight into that relentless pestering that makes him such an irritant to opponents. Micky van de Ven evades him, though.

Image source, Getty Images

Cristian Romero tries to find James Maddison with a ball from deep into the box. It has a bit too much on it, though, and Sam Johnstone claims.

Spurs (W7-D2-L0) have their best record after nine games of a league campaign since 1960-61.

They won each of their opening 11 league matches of that season and went on to win the title (the most recent occasion they were top flight champions).Palace are winless in all 15 Friday top flight matches (W0-D6-L9).

Tottenham can ensure they'll be top of the Premier League table for another weekend if they win here.

Palace stand in their way and with a point to prove after getting hammered at Newcastle.

We are under way...

• Crystal Palace have won just one of their last 16 Premier League games against Spurs (D2 L13), a 3-0 home win in September 2021. Their three goals in that game account for 43% of the total they've scored against Tottenham in that run (3/7).
• Since the start of last season, Crystal Palace have won just two of their 15 Premier League London derby matches (D5 L8), with both of those victories coming against West Ham United (2-1 away and 4-3 at home).
• Tottenham are unbeaten in their last five away Premier League London derbies (W2 D3), since a 3-1 loss at Arsenal in October 2022. They last had a longer run without defeat on the road in London derbies between October 1992 and December 1993 (7 – W3 D4).
• Crystal Palace lost 4-0 against Newcastle last time out but haven’t lost consecutive Premier League matches since Roy Hodgson’s return to the club in April. Their last two home games have finished 0-0, with QPR in February 2013 the last team to have three consecutive home goalless draws in the top-flight.
• This will be Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson’s 500th game in charge of English clubs in all competitions. He lost his 100th and 200th milestone games (with the latter coming against Tottenham), while he won his 300th and 400th games in charge.
• James Maddison has either scored (two goals) or assisted (five goals) in each of his first five away Premier League appearances for Spurs. He is only the third player to do that for a club, along with Andrey Arshavin for Arsenal and Bruno Fernandes for Man Utd, neither of whom scored or assisted in their sixth away games

Anna Howells, Spurs XY, external

It is nice to finally enjoy going to football matches again, which is such a stark contrast to last season. Nowadays, there is a lovely electricity at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium; Spurs fans are in good spirit, we have a party-like atmosphere before, during and after games.

Why wouldn’t we be happy? We’re playing the Tottenham way, we’re still unbeaten and we’re top of the Premier League table.

We have a down to Earth manager, we have enthusiastic players who want to play for the badge and we have loads of fun songs to sing.

We didn’t win with a late goal for a change, instead a steady result ensured we stayed on track. It wasn’t the best of performances against Fulham, but it’s still three points and a clean sheet.

Among the many new faces we’ve seen come in this season, we’ve not talked enough about Vicario. I don’t know how we found him, but what a quality signing he’s been. He's been making fantastic saves every game and he’s as confident as anything at the back.

The only slight concern we have is the squad depth. Once we take away the first choice 11-ish players we don’t quite have adequate options to replace them.

If we can avoid major injuries and keep the goals coming, I’m sure we’ll be in for a good season.

You might see an extra addition to the shirts of Tottenham's players from Friday's game at Crystal Palace onwards.

Every Spurs player to have made a competitive appearance for the club since their first match in 1894 has been assigned a unique number as part of a "legacy initiative".

The numbers will feature on the back of match shirts beneath the collar.

Spurs' starting XI in their FA Cup tie against West Herts on 13 October 1894 have been assigned numbers one to 11, with a total of 879 players given a number in chronological order of their appearance for the club.

Alejo Veliz, who made his competitive debut against Liverpool on 30 September, is number 879 - currently the last number on the list, which was compiled using "extensive research from club historians".

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski admits his side have an advantage over their domestic rivals because they are not playing in Europe this season.

Ange Postecoglou's side returned to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Fulham on Monday night.

The Sweden international says the opportunity to rest in midweek when the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle are in European action is hugely beneficial.

"Honestly, it helps a lot. Physically, I remember last season was very hard playing three games a week," Kulusevski said.

"You feel very tired in the warm-ups. Also, mentally not having to travel to Spain or Italy to play games helps. You are at home, with your family. You have a good rest mentally, so it is a huge thing that we have and we have to take advantage of that this year.

"You can feel the difference and hopefully you will see even more at the end of the season.

"It is early because we will see what happens. Everything can change every day so we don't need to talk about (title), but we must live for the day with a smile, train hard and not forget who we are. We must try to get better every day."

Nick Godwin
BBC Radio London sport reporter

Ange Postecoglou is already used to fielding questions about next May, rather than next week. Can Tottenham win the title? Can they last the pace? Can this squad hold off the better resourced teams below them for another seven months?

The still relatively new Spurs manager has dealt with these questions with dignity and patience but inside he must be wondering what he’s supposed to say at this point. He doesn’t want to write off any possibility that his team could achieve something extraordinary next spring, but he also doesn’t want to push expectations sky-high, which may act against what he’s trying to do this season.

The real question that he may well be posing to himself and to the powers-that-be at Tottenham is not can we keep up the pace until May, but can we stay high up the league until December?

Can he go to the Spurs chairman Daniel Levy as the transfer window prepares to open again and say "look where we are now, what can we do to stay there?" With every win that Tottenham earn at the moment, the stronger Postecoglou’s hand will be going into negotiations about what happens in January.

The Harry Kane money will give Spurs extra flexibility to respond to where he feels Tottenham need to strengthen. Whether it’s another striker or another centre half, it’s obvious this Tottenham squad is thin.

They ended the game against Fulham with their fourth and fifth choice central midfield pairing on the field. The right acquisitions in January could transform them into genuine title contenders.

Let other people worry about May and titles etc. All they’ve got to do now is stay in the game.

Image source, BBC Sport

Tottenham are top and I'm getting asked if they are title contenders.

For now, just be top and enjoy the journey. There has been so many questions and criticism of Spurs over the years, so enjoy this.

They have a nice month and then Manchester City in early December. Just stay in it and keep going. They are not battering teams but are getting good results, grinding out situations and they have players with great flair who can score goals.

Not being in Europe is really important, even more so given they have a new manager.

A new manager can work on the training ground. We are already getting interrupted with international breaks so not being involved in Europe is giving Ange Postecoglou more crucial time to work and recover.

Defensively, Spurs may face questions against the top sides. They will be able to do so much on the training ground on aspects like this by not having that extra game.

When you are in Europe you are 'game, recovery, Champions League, recovery' and then you're into a weekend. Recovery wise, it gives them a much better option as they don't have the squad to make five changes in a Premier League game.

On Monday after beating Fulham, Postecoglou said they didn't play well in the second half. Was he using this to influence his players? I think he wants them to be better as he realises what is coming around the corner.

He is trying to tell them what level they have got to be at to give themselves a chance. It's his way of keeping feet on the ground and explaining where they need to get better.

I think it goes back to my point that they haven't been battering teams. To win a title you need more convincing displays. But it's good they are finding this grit.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson speaking to Sky Sports: "This game [against Newcastle] gave us some stuff to work on and I am sure we will see the team like what we want to see today.

"But, like against Newcastle, we are playing against a team that can cause a lot of problems for their opponents. We have to be aware of their threat but we are looking forward to the game and we will see what happens."

Tottenham Hotspur

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou speaking on Sky Sports before the match against Crystal Palace: "Our performances have been good. Results are there for everyone to see and we have been consistent. It is still the start and we need to improve. If we have a good starting point we have got to push on. We can't just be happy where we are.

"I think what we try and do is it's not a rigid structure but a real structure. I think different players bring different qualities to it. We give them the freedom to bring what they want to bring to the game. The overall structure will remain the same.

"You try and provide a framework where - my key message to the lads is when we have got the ball you've got to find space. If we have more fluidity, [we can create more space]. I try and show that there is a lot of freedom there. But I try and be the puppet master and control it."

On Son playing up front: "I think - I don't wan to make the comparison I think he is a similar type to Cristiano [Ronaldo]. He is a great player and his finishing is outstanding and I think he is good in that area. But I also like his work ethic. I knew he had that in bucket loads."

On Bissouma's return to the starting XI after suspension: "He has that instinctive abilty to break lines, with or without the ball. Sometimes you don't have space to pass and he can break lines. The reason I bring him back in, as well as form, is because I think we are going to need to ball carrying there."