Tottenham boast the best defensive record in the Premier League. They’ve let in just one goal in their last six. So what chance do Crystal Palace have of breaking them down on Sunday? The 2,000 fans returning to Selhurst Park for the London derby will be looking to Wilfried Zaha for inspiration.
The 28-year-old is no stranger to bearing the expectations and hopes of the Palace fans. He has, after all, been their star man for much of the past decade. But there is extra reason to believe in Zaha right now. Firstly, his form is scintillating. He returned from two weeks away after a positive coronavirus test to run the show at West Brom last week, picking up from where he left off before that absence to score twice and assist another in a 5-1 thrashing of Slaven Bilic’s side, who were reduced to 10 men in the first half.
Zaha has made his name as a fleet-footed winger, combining skill and pace into a dribbling ability that gives defenders nightmares. But moving up top he’s also added a more clinical element to his game in the final third, as his seven goals in nine Premier League games this season demonstrates.Sponsored Link
“He’s always had the attributes to play the type of centre forward role we want him to play,” Palace boss Roy Hodgson tells Sky Sports.
“We’re not asking him to be a target-playing centre forward. We want him to make sure he gets on the ball alongside a colleague who will quite possibly take a lot more of that target role if needed.