A Man United fan, an Arsenal fan and a Spurs fan walked into a synagogue... ...as the famous joke always starts. It was roundabout this time last year, and the Spurs fan was picking out the various games in which Leicester were going to drop points, the assumption being that Spurs would collect all those available to them. Somewhere in the smoke rings of their minds, the United and Arsenal fans recalled the days when their teams contested titles, reminded the Spurs fan that he knew no such thing, and recollected how leagues are rarely won with long runs of victories. Shortly afterwards, Leicester were champions. Which is to say that tonight's game is no gimme. United and Arsenal are the best teams Spurs have still to play, but to assume that Palace will simply be despatched is nonsense. This should be very interesting.

Premier League / Matchday 28

Selhurst Park / 26.04.2017

Crystal Palace

Completed

Tottenham Hotspur

C. Eriksen(78')

Live

Live Updates

ByMarcus Foley

Updated 26/04/2017 at 20:58 GMT

25'

Pochettino has shoved Dier into midfield to help Spurs wrest control, with Dembele ahead of him and Wanayama. They've been very lazy so far - they'll be getting a stern one in 20 minutes. And this is better, a low cross from Eriksen that needs a steady foot from Ward to clear.

23'

Reasonably though Palace have started, they haven't got Zaha on the ball much, let alone in behind the wing-back. Oh, and Walker's larruped one over top from 20 yards after it bounced nicely for him.

21'

Slowly, Spurs are clambering into this. And that's brilliant from Dembele, monstering Ward off the ball, turning and keeping it moving. He's a really good player, but at some point should become more or less the best. Anyway, the move ends with Alderweireld humping over the top from distance.

19'

Dier is allowed to stroll out with the ball and he spreads a lovely pass out to Walker. With Townsend drawn inside, he's got time and space, but can only drill a low cross behind.

19'

Seriously.

17'

where would you rank Alderweireld in the list of modern Spurs defenders? I'd say behind Campbell and King, but someone who watches them more often than me said his ability on the ball made him better than Campbell. To me, that's secondary.

16'

Alderweireld gets wide, pirouetting on the ball just outside his own box - Zaha is very close to punishing his tomfoolery.

14'

Benteke flicks on a long kick and Townsend is there quickly to collect, showing unusual nous to hang onto the ball till his man's ready for the return. He squares it, and a low shot is too close to Lloris.

14'

Also nothing to do with this game, but Javier Mascherano has scored his first goal in 2,617 days, and he took it with suitable venom.

12'

Zaha pops up on the right and does some twisting and turning before knocking a ball into the box. McArthur rushes onto it too, but can't keep his feet as he turns.

12'

This has nothing whatsoever to do with this game, but it made me laugh so here we are and here you go.

10'

No side in the league has lost as many home games as Palace. I'm surprised and delighted to learn that - unlucky, Pards. Though it was Allardyce's lot who lost four to Sunderland.

But here's Eriksen, controlling a bouncing ball and lifting it over his shoulder to Kane, dead centre and just outside the box. He pulls it down, dare I say it, Berbatov-style, and quickly pokes volley not that far wide or high.

And there's McArthur robbing Dembele in midfield and breaking towards to box ... he slides in Benteke to his left, but up goes the flag. No need to be caught there.

Spurs are yet to get going.

Palace have started quickly here.

Townsend pegs it down the line and Dembele batters over to force him down. Free-kick from the right touchline, deep in the Spurs half, and five Palace men line up - they've practised this. Spurs can't clear the cross either, and Walker has to time a tackle on Puncheon perfectly to avoid conceding a penalty. But even then, the ball comes back, Ward whizzing a centre across the face of goal with no one on-hand to blow it in when Dier allows it to pass.

Lovely from Dembele in midfield, drawing a nasty challenge from Puncheon in midfield - the ref sees nowt and Alli wins a corner. Palace don't defend it well either, Kelly forced to block a shot from Kane.

Do Palace have the worst songs of any team in England? That's a rhetorical question.

We're away!

20:01

I despise Sky's "mmmm, mmm, mmm, mmm."

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