Tottenham have the opportunity to immediately right the wrongs of the New Year's Day defeat against Aston Villa with a trip to Crystal Place on Wednesday evening. Just not at the races in the 2-0 loss as their inconsistent form continued, Antonio Conte needs a response from his players as they now find themselves outside the top four.
More dropped points would prove disastrous, especially as Manchester United, who have played one game less, are now two points ahead of them and Liverpool are also now breathing down their neck after winning their last four league fixtures. Games at Selhurst Park are never easy, with Tottenham falling to a 3-0 defeat on their previous visit to Patrick Vieira's side in September 2021.
So how exactly should Tottenham line up against the Eagles on Wednesday? Our Tottenham writers have named the sides they would select to face Crystal Palace below.
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Rob Guest - Tottenham Hotspur reporter
Antonio Conte will be praying that Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski are fit enough to take their place in the team at Crystal Palace after missing out against Aston Villa through injury. If both still remain on the sidelines, the boss is going to have a couple of big decisions to make in terms of his starting XI.
Despite his clanger on New Year's Day, Hugo Lloris keeps his place in the team, with Cristian Romero, Clement Lenglet and Ben Davies once again making up the back three ahead of him. The wing-backs should remain the same again as they are the head coach's best two attacking options.
If Bentancur is not fit enough to play, Oliver Skipp should take the suspended Yves Bissouma's place in midfield ahead of Pape Matar Sarr. Although the Senegal international was a rare bright spot in the Villa defeat, Skipp's experience will probably see him get the nod and he can help give Spurs some presence in the middle of the park.
Bryan Gil should be handed a second successive Premier League start only if Kulusevski remains on the sidelines.
Guest's team: Lloris; Romero, Lenglet, Davies; Doherty, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
Lee Wilmot - Head of Football
What to do against Crystal Palace after that shambles at home to Aston Villa? Hugo Lloris starts despite his howler, as, to be honest, there is little other option.
Eric Dier was dropped for Villa and it clearly had little impact on the backline, so he should come back in, alongside Ben Davies and Cristian Romero. I'll say it again, but I'd give Djed Spence a go, what's the worst that could happen? And on the other side it's Ivan Perisic.
In the middle, Yves Bissouma should be replaced by Oliver Skipp for me. He's got more experience and know-how in there than Pape Matar Sarr, and we need to win. He'll be alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Then up top it's Son Heung-min and hopefully the returning Dejan Kulusevski alongside Harry Kane.
Wilmot's team: Lloris; Dier, Romero, Davies; Spence, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Perisic; Son, Kulusevski, Kane
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