Premier League: Can Spurs stay on top with a win at Crystal Palace?

The Premier League returns this Saturday with two teams needing wins for different reasons; can Patrick Vieira get his first win as the Crystal Palace manager? The visitors to Selhurst Park are Tottenham Hotspur, a team with the only perfect record in the league. It’s the first time Spurs have started a season with three wins and three clean sheets in their history.

Saturday’s game will be the 25th Premier League meeting between the two London sides; Palace have won three games, and Spurs have won 14. Harry Kane and Gareth Bale scored a brace when Spurs hammered Roy Hodgson’s Palace 4-1 back in March with the last two meetings at Selhurst Park ending in 1-1 draws.

Crystal Palace shy in front of goal

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This is the fourth London game in a row for Palace. A 3-0 defeat away to Chelsea wasn’t the start the new manager wanted. The Eagles shared the spoils with Brentford on Matchday 2, before drawing 2-2 away to West Ham United.

Winning games means scoring goals, and that’s a concern for Palace. Under Hodgson, they scored 41 goals in 38 league games. Vieira has a lot of work to do if he wants the Eagles to become the attacking side he promised the fans. The Eagles had two shots on target in the 0-0 draw at home to Brentford. At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea limited Palace to one shot on target.

The Palace manager could shuffle his midfield with a trio of players, yet to make an appearance this season. After signing from Reading, Michael Olise could make his debut for Veira’s side. The attacking midfielder scored seven times last season and a goal on Saturday would be a boost for the home supporters.

Another player waiting to pull on a Palace shirt for the first time is Will Hughes. The 26-year-old signed from Watford in the summer. Hughes is excellent with the ball at his feet. The £6m price tag could be great value if Viera can get the best out of him.

Connor Gallagher scored both of Palace’s goals. He’s a player in excellent form for the club. WhoScored’s Opta player ratings rank Gallagher at number 3 in the league. Club captain Luka Milivojevic is fighting to be match-fit for this weekend’s Premier League opener and is still a doubt.