Pierre Sage believes the adversity he is currently facing at Crystal Palace could make him a better coach, as they look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League against Tottenham.

Sage is under a lot of pressure after a poor start to the season, which sees Palace sitting 17th in the league table with only seven points to their name.

They have lost their last two matches in the competition without scoring – 5-0 v Brighton and 2-0 v Newcastle United – but they earned a reprieve in midweek, with a 1-0 victory over Fulham to reach the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

Sage is now hoping to build some momentum in the Premier League, likening this game against Spurs to a “final” after that win over Fulham, and he believes they will come out stronger after their tough run.

"Maybe you will think my answer is crazy, but I think it's an opportunity for me to become a better coach," he told Sky Sports.

"Faced with the difficulty, the problem, you have to find a solution I didn't anticipate. It's an opportunity to challenge my ideas, my way of doing [things], some adaptation…

"I know the most important thing is the results. We need to change things to become the team we're able to be. I have to take the good decisions at the good moment in this period because the player needs [me to].

"This situation is maybe a positive opportunity for me. Every day I want to improve and become a better coach and help the players and team to become better too."

Spurs, meanwhile, are on a different trajectory. After failing to win their first six games of the season, they have since beaten Coventry City and Chelsea to move up to 14th.

They are boosted by the news that James Maddison, who went down unchallenged against Chelsea, will be fit to play against Palace.

But Spurs' recent upturn in form has also coincided with the return of Dejan Kulusevski, who spent over a year on the sidelines – 526 days – with a knee injury that he suffered against Palace in 2024-25.

"I know I can compete, and I know that because I put in the work," Kulusevski told SpursPlay about managing the injury.

"I am not afraid because I put in the work for one year, so I know I will be ready to play, and the knee is strong.

"Roberto, I know from before because he is a very special manager, so when he came here, it feels also like it is special. I am so happy to have him and the staff because they are different, and I like to work with different people."

Back home on Saturday https://t.co/Ulwq8waHE3

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 29, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham – Mathys Tel

Six of Spurs' eight Premier League goals this season have been scored in the final 15 minutes of games, the joint most of any side, with Mathys Tel the latest to net a late goal.

Against Chelsea, he scored in the 87th minute, having had just two shots overall, though he led the team for touches in the opposition box (11) and chances created (two).

Crystal Palace – Jorgen Strand Larsen

Jorgen Strand Larsen has scored three goals in four Premier League appearances against Tottenham.

With those three goals, he has netted the equaliser (once) or the winning goal (twice) for his teams.

MATCH PREDICTION: TOTTENHAM WIN

Tottenham have lost their last two home Premier League matches against Palace, having won nine on the spin beforehand between 2015-16 and 2023-24.

And Palace have three wins in their last four Premier League games against Spurs (L1), only one fewer than in their first 30 against them in the competition (W4 D7 L19).

But recent form means momentum is behind Spurs at the moment, as they have won their last two Premier League matches, only one fewer than they had won in their previous 26 (W3 D10 L13). They last won three in a row back in February 2025.

Spurs' last two Premier League games have been wins against Coventry and Chelsea. The last side to win three in a row against sides all beginning with the same letter was Burnley in March/April 2018 against West Ham, West Brom and Watford.

Palace have shipped 19 Premier League goals this season, more than any other side and their most at this stage of a league season since 1980-81 in the top-flight (22).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Draw – 23.7%

Crystal Palace – 22.6%