Premier League Regular Season - 18

Crystal Palace 0 - 1 FT Tottenham

Selhurst Park

AI-powered match analysis and previews to help you decide which games are worth watching

42
FT
Sun, Dec 28
Crystal Palace
0-1
Tottenham
⚡ Intensity 39
⚖️ Balance 20
🏆 Stakes 0
🎲 Upset 60
Spurs steal Boxing Day at Selhurst Park

Clinical Spurs Exploit Palace's Wastefulness in Selhurst Park Stalemate

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 42/100. A single moment of precision separated two midtable sides scrapping for relevance, with Tottenham's ruthlessness punishing Crystal Palace's profligacy in front of goal.

Palace Dominance Undone by Clinical Finishing

Crystal Palace controlled the tempo at Selhurst Park with 62% possession, forcing Tottenham into a reactive shell. The Eagles peppered the box with 15 shots—nine from inside the area—yet only two found the target. This is the cruel arithmetic of the Premier League: intensity without precision equals defeat. Adam Wharton orchestrated Palace's midfield with grace, laying on two key passes and earning a 7.9 rating for his outstanding display. Jefferson Lerma anchored the backline with equal assurance (7.5 rating), yet neither could conjure the breakthrough their side's dominance demanded.

VAR's Offside Circus Frames Spurs' Solitary Strike

The narrative pivoted on two VAR interventions. Richarlison had a goal chalked off for offside in the 17th minute—a marginal call that would haunt Palace. Then, in the 42nd minute, A. Gray finished ruthlessly from Richarlison's assist to give Spurs a half-time lead they barely deserved. With just 38% possession and seven shots, Tottenham operated on a knife's edge. Another Richarlison "goal" was disallowed in the 75th minute—three offside flags in 58 minutes painted a picture of a Spurs side living dangerously. Yet Guglielmo Vicario's two crucial saves (7.5 rating) kept Palace at bay, proving that balance in tight matches often trumps territorial control.

The Verdict: Efficiency Over Elegance

Tottenham moved to 25 points, climbing marginally in the midtable scrum, while Crystal Palace remain on 26 points—both sides stuck in limbo. Palace's xG of 1.31 versus their zero goals tells the story of a team that created but could not convert. Spurs' xG of 0.80 paired with one clinical finish exemplifies the stakes of Boxing Day football: margins are razor-thin, and one lapse costs you three points.

Key Questions

How did VAR change this match?

Three offside interventions—two disallowed Richarlison goals and the Gray goal allowed—shaped the narrative. VAR's marginal calls defined the outcome, denying Palace a potential equalizer in the 17th minute.

How is the Futmetrix Score calculated?

The Futmetrix Score (0-100) combines multiple factors: match intensity, competitive balance, stakes importance, and entertainment value to help you decide if this match is worth watching.

Match Statistics

Possession
62%
38%
Crystal Palace 62%
Tottenham 38%
Shots
15
7
Crystal Palace 15
Tottenham 7
Shots on Target
2
3
Crystal Palace 2
Tottenham 3
Expected Goals (xG)
1.31
0.80
Crystal Palace 1.31
Tottenham 0.80
Passes
537
336
Crystal Palace 537
Tottenham 336
Pass Accuracy
80%
69%
Crystal Palace 80%
Tottenham 69%
Corners
3
2
Crystal Palace 3
Tottenham 2
Fouls
7
5
Crystal Palace 7
Tottenham 5
Yellow Cards
3
2
Crystal Palace 3
Tottenham 2
Red Cards
0
0
Crystal Palace 0
Tottenham 0

Match Events

K. Danso 🟨 5'
Richarlison 17'
A. Gray 🟨 22'
A. Gray (Richarlison) 42'
45'+3 🟨 W. Hughes
HT
46' 🟨 M. Lacroix
58' 🔄 N. Clyne E. Nketiah
L. Bergvall J. Palhinha 🔄 63'
R. Kolo Muani W. Odobert 🔄 63'
Richarlison 75'
77' 🔄 Y. Pino C. Uche
85' 🟨 J. Lerma
85' 🔄 J. Devenny R. Esse
M. Kudus B. Johnson 🔄 85'
A. Gray R. Dragusin 🔄 86'
FT

Player Cards

Season performance ratings for players in this match

Crystal Palace

Goalkeepers
Dean Henderson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jefferson Lerma
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
56%
Pass Acc
Maxence Lacroix
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Marc Guéhi
MAGNET
MAGNET
87
Activity
87
Activity
81
Passes
6
Duels
Midfielders
Nathaniel Clyne
SWEEPER
SWEEPER
2
Cleanups
2
Cleanups
2
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Adam Wharton
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Will Hughes
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
35%
Pass Acc
Tyrick Mitchell
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Justin Devenny
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Yéremy Pino
MAGNET
MAGNET
49
Activity
49
Activity
38
Passes
11
Duels
Jean-Philippe Mateta
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Walter Benítez
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jaydee Canvot
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dean Benamar
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Borna Sosa
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Romain Esse
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kaden Rodney
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Christantus Uche
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Edward Nketiah
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
39
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Joel Drakes-Thomas
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Tottenham

Goalkeepers
Guglielmo Vicario
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Pedro Porro
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Kevin Danso
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Micky van de Ven
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Djed Spence
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
75%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Rodrigo Bentancur
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Archie Gray
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Mohammed Kudus
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
Lucas Bergvall
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
Randal Kolo Muani
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
Forwards
Richarlison
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
11%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Antonín Kinský
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Radu Drăguşin
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Kota Takai
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ben Davies
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
João Palhinha
SWEEPER
SWEEPER
2
Cleanups
2
Cleanups
1
Interceptions
1
Blocks
Wilson Odobert
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mathys Tel
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Brennan Johnson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dane Scarlett
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
11/05/2025 Tottenham 0 - 2 Crystal Palace Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
27/10/2024 Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Tottenham Premier League Selhurst Park
02/03/2024 Tottenham 3 - 1 Crystal Palace Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
27/10/2023 Crystal Palace 1 - 2 Tottenham Premier League Selhurst Park
06/05/2023 Tottenham 1 - 0 Crystal Palace Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
04/01/2023 Crystal Palace 0 - 4 Tottenham Premier League Selhurst Park
26/12/2021 Tottenham 3 - 0 Crystal Palace Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
11/09/2021 Crystal Palace 3 - 0 Tottenham Premier League Selhurst Park
07/03/2021 Tottenham 4 - 1 Crystal Palace Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
13/12/2020 Crystal Palace 1 - 1 Tottenham Premier League Selhurst Park
11/05/2025
Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
27/10/2024
Premier League Selhurst Park
02/03/2024
Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
27/10/2023
Premier League Selhurst Park
06/05/2023
Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
04/01/2023
Premier League Selhurst Park
26/12/2021
Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
11/09/2021
Premier League Selhurst Park
07/03/2021
Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
13/12/2020
Premier League Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace Win
Tottenham Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Arsenal 18 42 33 11 +22 WArsenal 2 - 1 Brighton (27-12-2025)WEverton 0 - 1 Arsenal (20-12-2025)WArsenal 2 - 1 Wolves (13-12-2025)LAston Villa 2 - 1 Arsenal (06-12-2025)WArsenal 2 - 0 Brentford (03-12-2025)
2 Manchester City 18 40 43 17 +26 WNottingham Forest 1 - 2 Manchester City (27-12-2025)WManchester City 3 - 0 West Ham (20-12-2025)WCrystal Palace 0 - 3 Manchester City (14-12-2025)WManchester City 3 - 0 Sunderland (06-12-2025)WFulham 4 - 5 Manchester City (02-12-2025)
3 Aston Villa 18 39 29 19 +10 WChelsea 1 - 2 Aston Villa (27-12-2025)WAston Villa 2 - 1 Manchester United (21-12-2025)WWest Ham 2 - 3 Aston Villa (14-12-2025)WAston Villa 2 - 1 Arsenal (06-12-2025)WBrighton 3 - 4 Aston Villa (03-12-2025)
4 Liverpool 18 32 30 26 +4 WLiverpool 2 - 1 Wolves (27-12-2025)WTottenham 1 - 2 Liverpool (20-12-2025)WLiverpool 2 - 0 Brighton (13-12-2025)DLeeds 3 - 3 Liverpool (06-12-2025)DLiverpool 1 - 1 Sunderland (03-12-2025)
5 Chelsea 18 29 30 19 +11 LChelsea 1 - 2 Aston Villa (27-12-2025)DNewcastle 2 - 2 Chelsea (20-12-2025)WChelsea 2 - 0 Everton (13-12-2025)DBournemouth 0 - 0 Chelsea (06-12-2025)LLeeds 3 - 1 Chelsea (03-12-2025)
6 Manchester United 18 29 32 28 +4 WManchester United 1 - 0 Newcastle (26-12-2025)LAston Villa 2 - 1 Manchester United (21-12-2025)DManchester United 4 - 4 Bournemouth (15-12-2025)WWolves 1 - 4 Manchester United (08-12-2025)DManchester United 1 - 1 West Ham (04-12-2025)
7 Sunderland 18 28 20 18 +2 DSunderland 1 - 1 Leeds (28-12-2025)DBrighton 0 - 0 Sunderland (20-12-2025)WSunderland 1 - 0 Newcastle (14-12-2025)LManchester City 3 - 0 Sunderland (06-12-2025)DLiverpool 1 - 1 Sunderland (03-12-2025)
8 Brentford 18 26 28 26 +2 WBrentford 4 - 1 Bournemouth (27-12-2025)WWolves 0 - 2 Brentford (20-12-2025)DBrentford 1 - 1 Leeds (14-12-2025)LTottenham 2 - 0 Brentford (06-12-2025)LArsenal 2 - 0 Brentford (03-12-2025)
9 Crystal Palace 18 26 21 20 +1 LCrystal Palace 0 - 1 Tottenham (28-12-2025)LLeeds 4 - 1 Crystal Palace (20-12-2025)LCrystal Palace 0 - 3 Manchester City (14-12-2025)WFulham 1 - 2 Crystal Palace (07-12-2025)WBurnley 0 - 1 Crystal Palace (03-12-2025)
10 Fulham 18 26 25 26 -1 WWest Ham 0 - 1 Fulham (27-12-2025)WFulham 1 - 0 Nottingham Forest (22-12-2025)WBurnley 2 - 3 Fulham (13-12-2025)LFulham 1 - 2 Crystal Palace (07-12-2025)LFulham 4 - 5 Manchester City (02-12-2025)
11 Tottenham 18 25 27 23 +4 WCrystal Palace 0 - 1 Tottenham (28-12-2025)LTottenham 1 - 2 Liverpool (20-12-2025)LNottingham Forest 3 - 0 Tottenham (14-12-2025)WTottenham 2 - 0 Brentford (06-12-2025)DNewcastle 2 - 2 Tottenham (02-12-2025)
12 Everton 18 25 18 20 -2 DBurnley 0 - 0 Everton (27-12-2025)LEverton 0 - 1 Arsenal (20-12-2025)LChelsea 2 - 0 Everton (13-12-2025)WEverton 3 - 0 Nottingham Forest (06-12-2025)WBournemouth 0 - 1 Everton (02-12-2025)
13 Brighton 18 24 26 25 +1 LArsenal 2 - 1 Brighton (27-12-2025)DBrighton 0 - 0 Sunderland (20-12-2025)LLiverpool 2 - 0 Brighton (13-12-2025)DBrighton 1 - 1 West Ham (07-12-2025)LBrighton 3 - 4 Aston Villa (03-12-2025)
14 Newcastle 18 23 23 23 0 LManchester United 1 - 0 Newcastle (26-12-2025)DNewcastle 2 - 2 Chelsea (20-12-2025)LSunderland 1 - 0 Newcastle (14-12-2025)WNewcastle 2 - 1 Burnley (06-12-2025)DNewcastle 2 - 2 Tottenham (02-12-2025)
15 Bournemouth 18 22 27 33 -6 LBrentford 4 - 1 Bournemouth (27-12-2025)DBournemouth 1 - 1 Burnley (20-12-2025)DManchester United 4 - 4 Bournemouth (15-12-2025)DBournemouth 0 - 0 Chelsea (06-12-2025)LBournemouth 0 - 1 Everton (02-12-2025)
16 Leeds 18 20 25 32 -7 DSunderland 1 - 1 Leeds (28-12-2025)WLeeds 4 - 1 Crystal Palace (20-12-2025)DBrentford 1 - 1 Leeds (14-12-2025)DLeeds 3 - 3 Liverpool (06-12-2025)WLeeds 3 - 1 Chelsea (03-12-2025)
17 Nottingham Forest 18 18 18 28 -10 LNottingham Forest 1 - 2 Manchester City (27-12-2025)LFulham 1 - 0 Nottingham Forest (22-12-2025)WNottingham Forest 3 - 0 Tottenham (14-12-2025)LEverton 3 - 0 Nottingham Forest (06-12-2025)WWolves 0 - 1 Nottingham Forest (03-12-2025)
18 West Ham 18 13 19 36 -17 LWest Ham 0 - 1 Fulham (27-12-2025)LManchester City 3 - 0 West Ham (20-12-2025)LWest Ham 2 - 3 Aston Villa (14-12-2025)DBrighton 1 - 1 West Ham (07-12-2025)DManchester United 1 - 1 West Ham (04-12-2025)
19 Burnley 18 12 19 34 -15 DBurnley 0 - 0 Everton (27-12-2025)DBournemouth 1 - 1 Burnley (20-12-2025)LBurnley 2 - 3 Fulham (13-12-2025)LNewcastle 2 - 1 Burnley (06-12-2025)LBurnley 0 - 1 Crystal Palace (03-12-2025)
20 Wolves 18 2 10 39 -29 LLiverpool 2 - 1 Wolves (27-12-2025)LWolves 0 - 2 Brentford (20-12-2025)LArsenal 2 - 1 Wolves (13-12-2025)LWolves 1 - 4 Manchester United (08-12-2025)LWolves 0 - 1 Nottingham Forest (03-12-2025)