Good afternoon everyone! The Premier League action continues at pace this weekend following a bumper schedule in midweek and in London there is a tasty derby to get stuck into, as Tottenham Hotspur welcome Crystal Palace to White Hart Lane.

Spurs will be looking to get back on track after losing against Chelsea in midweek. They actually started the game well and created some decent chances, with Harry Kane hitting the bar in the opening 10 minutes. But, after Eden Hazard opened the scoring for the Blues, it was one-way traffic as they fell to a 3-0 defeat.

Palace are also on the hunt for a good result following their clash against Aston Villa. A solitary first-half goal from Christian Benteke was the difference between the sides, in a match that should have seen the Eagles claim a point at the very least.

Before I go any further, the teams have been announced, so let's take a look at which players will be making an appearance in North London this afternoon.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Lloris, Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Lamela, Bentaleb, Mason, Eriksen; Kane, Soldado

CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Speroni, Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Ward, Bolasie, Jedinak, Ledley, McArthur, Zaha, Chamakh

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBS: Vorm, Kaboul, Rose, Lennon, Paulinho, Stambouli, Chadli

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Delaney, Bannan, Thomas, Puncheon, Gayle, Campbell

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has made a couple of changes to his side following that defeat at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Roberto Soldado comes into the attack to join Harry Kane up front, while Eric Dier replaces the injured Vlad Chiriches in the back four.

Meanwhile, Palace have made just one change to their starting lineup. Dwight Gayle was replaced at half time against Villa due to illness and only makes the bench today, so Joe Ledley is chosen to start in his place.

Well, we're now just over a third of the way through the season, but it is still very unclear where Tottenham will end up. They are currently slap bang in the middle of the table and have won as many games as they have lost, with their consistency surely a major concern for manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine has yet to really convince the Spurs faithful that he is the right man for the job since his arrival from Southampton in the summer. He enjoyed such a great season last time around at the Saints, but has found it tough to get his ideas across, with players such as Emmanuel Adebayor admitting last month that his teammates were 'not getting the message'.

One of the biggest frustrations for the supporters will be their home record this season. They have lost four of their seven matches at White Hart Lane, which is certainly not the form of a side with aspirations of finishing inside the top four.

Despite their inconsistent league form, they are well placed to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup, with a home tie against Newcastle United to come on December 17. They will also be playing European football in the New Year, after qualifying from their group in the Europa League with one game to spare.

You get the feeling that Spurs could be very involved in the transfer market in January. They have been linked with countless players, while many of their fringe squad members are said to be on the verge of an exit. Their tally of 18 goals in the league is not bad, but it could prompt them to buy a new striker, although the recent form of Harry Kane has been very encouraging.

Moving on to the visitors and it is becoming apparently clear that Palace will be involved in a scrap against relegation once more. With 13 points on the board, they have collected just three than bottom club Leicester City will need to rediscover their form from last season if they want to avoid the drop.

They come into today's match after losing against Aston Villa on Tuesday. They had started the game well and put their opponents under a huge amount of pressure, before a defensive lapse from Scott Dann allowed Christian Benteke to run through and curl the ball into the bottom corner. From that moment on they pressed for an equaliser, but struggled to create any clear-cut chances as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat.

That loss was a third in five games for the Eagles and their seventh in the league this season. With important games to come over the festive period against the likes of Stoke City, Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa, they will be keen on getting some much needed points on the board.

Although Palace have not been winning many games, their performances have deserved far better on a number of occasions. They were only narrowly beaten in games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, while victories against Everton and Liverpool are proof that on their day they can trouble the best teams in the league.

When the teams played each other last season it was Spurs who came out on top in both matches. On the opening day they met Selhurst Park and a debut goal from Roberto Soldado ensured it ended in 1-0 win to the visitors. In the return fixture at White Hart Lane it was Christian Eriksen and Jermain Defoe who found the net, as Spurs ran out 2-0 winners.

.@ChrisEriksen8 and @nabilbentaleb42 warming up #COYS pic.twitter.com/rmK11cTJ16 — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 6, 2014

PREDICTION: Although Spurs haven't always found it easy at home this season, I am expecting them to pick up the three points this afternoon. They had played well in their victory against Everton last weekend, before coming up against an in-form Chelsea outfit. Palace are capable of getting a result, but they just seem to lack a real threat in the final third, so I am tipping the hosts to win this one 2-0.

With five minutes to go until kick off, why not have a look at what the guys down at Sports Mole HQ thought about today's clash in this video preview.

Both teams are out on the pitch and we are now just a couple of minutes away from the start of the match. Just a quick update for anyone who didn't see today's early Premier League match, that Chelsea suffered their first defeat of the season after losing 2-1 against Newcastle United. That really has thrown the title race wide open and it could inspire some further shocks throughout this weekend.

KICKOFF! We are underway at White Hart Lane!

Spurs have seen plenty of the ball in the opening stages but we are yet to see a chance on goal from either side. The hosts also have a slight concern, as Dier has headed over to the far side to receive treatment on his leg.

There really hasn't been too much to report and the game is being played at a very slow pace. I can tell you that Dier is back on the pitch and he appears to have recovered from his earlier knock.

CHANCE! The match finally sparks into life as Spurs have the first attempt on goal. The ball is played out wide on the left to Eriksen, who immediately cuts inside and heads towards goal. He shows a brilliant piece of skill to get past Kelly and finds himself with a chance to shoot, but ends up drilling his effort into the side netting at the far post, when perhaps he should have shot across goal.

Palace have their first spell of possession in the game and they do well to win a corner on the left. The set piece is whipped into the box by Bolasie and headed back across goal to McArthur, who then slices his effort well wide of the target.

The Eagles have really grown into the game in the past few minutes and they are looking very positive down both flanks. Zaha has tried to take on Davies at every opportunity and the Welsh full back could have his hands full this afternoon.

CHANCE! Palace win a free kick just outside the box following a poor challenge by Lamela on Chamakh. Jedinak steps up to take the set piece and sees his effort hit the wall, before drilling the rebound towards the bottom corner, but Lloris was there to get down and make the save.

The visitors are proving to be a danger from set pieces and they are inches away from finding the net here. It is actually one of Tottenham's players who almost puts the ball in his own net, as Mason flicks a corner just wide of the far post. The home crowd will not be pleased at what they have seen so far.

CHANCE! It really is all Palace at the moment and they have another great chance to take the lead. Following a corner, Bolasie does well to trick his way past two defenders near the byline, before looking up and spotting Ledley on the edge of the box. The Welshman tries to sidefoot a first-time effort into the top corner, but he gets underneath the ball and it heads over the bar.

Bolasie is having a great game for Palace and his workrate has put the Spurs backline under some heavy pressure. He causes more panic as he hunts down Lamela and wins the ball just outside the box, before lashing a strike over the top.

CHANCE! Soldado has a very similar chance for the hosts, that Ledley had just a few minutes ago. He is well found by Davies just inside the box, but directs his attempt over the bar, when a player of his quality should really have been hitting the target.

SAVE! Lloris has not been too busy this afternoon, but he is called upon to make a fine stop. Yet again, Palace threaten from a set piece, as Bolasie's corner is met powerfully by Dann and with the ball heading towards the bottom corner, Lloris gets down to tip the ball wide.

It hasn't been a great afternoon for Spurs and another one of their defenders goes off to receive treatment. This time it's Fazio who heads to the touchline after a clash of heads with Chamakh. He should be fine to continue though after he is patched up by the physios.

CHANCES! Tottenham come close to opening the scoring, with two decent chances in the space of a minute. First, Eriksen sees his bending free kick tipped away by Speroni, before the ball is quickly played back into the box and Soldado puts another effort over the bar.

As we head closer to half time, Spurs have started to put the Palace defence under pressure and are playing some decent football. The end product is not quite there yet, but if they can up the intensity and get more support to their front men they may take a lead into the break.

Quite a lot of the play has been rather pedestrian this afternoon and you would expect a London derby to have a bit more edge to it. I can't recall a bad challenge from either side and although there has been chances at both ends, it has not been the most entertaining game you will ever see.

CHANCE! It's been a while since Palace's last chance, but they come close right at the end of the half. It's Zaha with the chance, as he shows some wonderful skill to cut inside from the left, before bending a strike inches wide of the far post.

We are going to have one minute of added time at the end of the first half.

Referee Lee Mason blows his whistle and brings a disappointing first half to an end. Despite both teams having some decent chances to score, they have been unable to break the deadlock, in what has been a rather uninspiring 45 minutes of football at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham have been in control of the ball for large spells and have had a dominant 67% of the possession. Both teams have had eight shots on goal this afternoon, while Palace, who have looked very dangerous from set pieces, have won seven corners compared to just the one for Spurs.

Well, what could each manager to do change this scoreline in the second half? The hosts don't really have an out and out striker who could come off the bench for Soldado or Kane, although Lennon would certainly offer some threat down the right, with Lamela looking poor so far. As for Palace, they have got Gayle among the substitutes, while Puncheon is also more than capable of grabbing a goal.

The players are back out for the second half and I can tell you that Spurs have made a change. Chadli is the man who comes on and it's the disappointing Lamela who heads off.

Palace take the kick off and get the match back underway!

Spurs have begun the half on the front foot, but they are yet to get in behind their opponents' defence and test out Speroni. Palace seem happy to soak up the pressure before trying to threaten on the counter.

It's still not quite happening for the Spurs attack and their link up play hasn't been great. Kane, who has been so impressive recently, is looking slightly off the pace and his attempt to play Eriksen through ends up going straight out of play for a goal kick.

The Spurs fans are starting to get a bit restless and you can understand their frustrations. Their side just have not got going since the break and are giving the ball away with a number of sloppy passes. The build up play in their attacks is also very slow and quite easy for Palace to cut out.

Zaha has been one of the few players to try and liven up this match and after receiving the ball from a corner he gets away from his marker and drills in a low cross. Palace have plenty of men in the box, but Lloris does well to read the situation and palm the ball clear from danger.

Spurs are seeing all of the ball, but they are still struggling to get in behind their opponents. There seems to be a real lack of width in the team and Lennon has been spotted warming up on the touchline.

MISS! Soldado should be celebrating the opening goal here. The Spaniard stays onside and latches onto a great flick through by Eriksen, but he ends up lashing his strike wide of the target. It is another moment to forget for the former Valencia man, who has scored just seven league goals since joining the club.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Both teams have made a change, with Paulinho replacing Mason for Spurs and Puncheon coming on for Zaha for Palace.

Kane hasn't had too many goalscoring chances and when he picks the ball up from Chadli around 25 yards out he fancies his chances. The striker looks to bend an effort into the top right corner, but he only succeeds in sending the ball over the top.

Palace have soaked up a lot of pressure since the break, but they are now enjoying a decent spell in the Spurs half. They even force a couple of efforts on goal, with Bolasie firing a shot wide and Puncheon seeing a decent strike blocked for a corner.

The statistics pretty much sum up how poor each team has been in front of goal this afternoon. Each team has only managed two shots on target, with both of those efforts coming in the first half.

OFF THE BAR! The visitors are inches away from breaking the deadlock. Dier gives away a poor corner with a terrible backpass and he is almost made to pay as the delivery falls kindly to Puncheon, who fires in a strike that crashes off the underside of the bar and comes back out. Just moments later the midfielder latches onto a ball over the top and finishes low past Lloris, but he was standing a yard offside and the goal is ruled out.

SAVE! Palace are sensing a late winner and they come close to scoring again when Bolasie is picked out inside the box by Puncheon and sees his goal-bound shot tipped wide by Lloris. The visitors have another chance to score seconds later, as Ledley is slipped in by Puncheon, before firing a strike just over the bar.

SUBSTITUTION: It's a third and final change of the match for the hosts, as Lennon replaces Soldado.

CHANCE! Both teams are pushing hard for a winner and after latching onto a knockdown inside the box, Paulinho turns and fires in a strike. His effort beats the keeper, but it is brilliantly blocked by Ward, although the ball may have been heading just wide of the post.

YELLOW CARD! With just two minutes of the match left, we have seen the first booking of the afternoon. Eriksen is the man who is cautioned for bringing down Chamakh.

Puncheon has had a great game since arriving on the pitch and he forces Lloris into another save from his low drive. It was straight at the keeper though, who makes another save to keep the scores level.

There are going to be two minutes of stoppage time.

The boos ring out around White Hart Lane as Spurs are unable to find a way past Crystal Palace. In truth, the visitors could have stolen the points in the closing stages and will be very happy at their efforts this afternoon.

That just about does it for today's coverage. Make sure you stay with us for more live commentary as Manchester City take on Everton in this evening's late kickoff. Until next time, goodbye!