Afternoon all. After yesterday, it's like the Premier League has never been away, thankfully! There has been plenty of talking points already and hopefully this clash between two London rivals will provide even more.

It may only be the opening game for these two clubs, but you cannot help but feel it is so important for hosting Crystal Palace. If they are to survive in the Premier League, they must pick up points from their home encounters. A victory today would certainly be a step in the right direction.

That's not to say that it isn't an important clash for Spurs, who have Champions League ambitions once again. Putting aside the Bale saga for a moment, Andre Villas-Boas has made what looks to be some very shrewd signings this summer. While the team news is not out just yet, we expect the likes of Paulinho and Roberto Soldado to start today.

Ian Holloway has also been busy in the transfer market, having recruited eight players during the pre-season. It's likely that we will see some of those feature at some point.

Right, the team news is out now. Here is how the home side will start this encounter...

PALACE XI: Speroni; Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey; Garvan, Dikagcoi, Jedinak; Dobbie, Wilbraham, Gayle

Fair play to Holloway - that is an attacking lineup that he has picked. It seems that he wants to match Spurs tactically. New signing Dwight Gayle will form part of a three-man attack that also includes Aaron Wilbraham and Stephen Dobbie. The remaining eight players all featured in the final of the playoffs against Watford back in May.

Meanwhile, this is who has been given the nod for Spurs...

TOTTENHAM XI: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Rose; Lennon, Dembele, Chadli, Sigurdsson, Paulinho; Soldado

Even without Bale, that is a strong looking Spurs team. Newbies Soldado, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli have all been handed their competitive debuts by Villas-Boas. Elsewhere, injury doubt Jan Vertonghen has been passed fit to start at centre-back, while Danny Rose is preferred to Benoit Assou-Ekotto at left-back.

So then, what happened the last time these sides met back in January 2005 I hear you ask!? Good question. Well, hosting Palace ran out 3-0 winners at Selhurst Park, thanks to goals from Mikele Leigertwood, Danny Granville and Andy Johnson. It was a very different Spurs side to today though, with the likes of Noe Pamarot, Dean Marney and Reto Ziegler all included.

And for a trip down memory lane, particularly for Palace fans, here are the highlights of that game. No doubt they would snatch your hands off for something similar today:

Right, let's get a little bit of pre-match chat, starting with Spurs boss Villas-Boas. Here is what he has had to say about the new players in his lineup:

"We wanted to strengthen the team and make it more competitive. We've made some great signings. This will be their first taste of Premier League football. It will be a big challenge today. We don't know the teams that come up as well as the others, so there is a surprise factor there."

Talking of new players, a lot of pressure will be placed on Gayle, who recently signed from Peterborough United, to score the goals that keep Palace up. Having said that, his manager Holloway is keen to play down the expectation on his frontman:

"It’s not too bad a gamble when he’s only 22 and he scored 20 goals last year, is it? He almost kept Peterborough up. He’s hungry. But I don’t want to build him up too much. When Ian Wright came to Crystal Palace from non-League he ended up playing for England and being Arsenal’s top scorer. Was that a risk? I’ve had to earn my living taking risks, so if Dwight Gayle’s a risk then I’m delighted I took it."

At the other end of the scale, while Palace have had to "gamble" on £6m Gayle, Spurs have splashed out around £24m to land Soldado. This is a striker that scored 81 goals in 141 outings for his former club Valencia - it's a real coup for the North Londoners and it wouldn't be a surprise if he got off the mark today.

"I feed off scoring goals. I think it's something which was born within me," the Spaniard has told Sky Sports News. "I think there are more positive to my feisty character than negatives. I'm both eager and enthusiastic to do my best. More than 20 [goals] would be good for me."

Of course, the presence of Soldado has seen Jermain Defoe drop down to the bench. With that in mind, let's bring you who has been named among the substitutes for both sides.

PALACE: Marange, Alexander, Campana, Phillips, O'Keefe, Williams, Chamakh

TOTTENHAM: Kaboul, Capoue, Naughton, Townsend, Defoe, Friedel, Carroll

It really is a sign of the strength of the squad at Tottenham when you consider that the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Lewis Holtby and Bale are not even on the bench! New signing from Toulouse Etienne Capoue is also among the replacements.

From a Palace point of view, some people may be surprised to see that Wilbraham has been selected ahead of the recently signed Marouane Chamakh up front. However, speaking to Sky Sports News, Holloway has explained that decision, citing the fact that the former Arsenal centre-forward has not played a pre-season match. It seems that he may only be able to get through around 30 minutes or so at the moment.

There is a really good atmosphere inside Selhurst Park as the players filter into the tunnel. Not long now until we are underway.

GAME ON! Selhurst Park is rocking as visiting Spurs, kicking from right to left, get this encounter off and running.

Some positive early signs for Palace as both Dawson and Kyle Walker both misplace passes that roll out of play. The home side are quick to get themselves among the opposition and not let them settle in possession.

We haven't seen too much of Tottenham's new trio so far. Paulinho has perhaps been the most involved in the centre of the pitch, while Soldado headed an effort well wide of the target. As for Chadli, I'm not sure if he has touched the ball!

Standing on the touchline, Holloway urges his players to "pass it". They do seem to be a little hurried in possession at the moment and are playing too much long-ball stuff. It means that Gayle has barely been in the game.

OFF THE BAR! Almost a goal of the season contender from Spurs midfielder Moussa Dembele. Soldado and Aaron Lennon link well wide on the right to create the chance for the Belgian 20 yards from goal. His left footed shot is swerving and beats Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni, but the ball grazes the top of the bar on its way over.

We've had a slight stoppage in play as Palace full-back Joel Ward hits the turf after landing awkwardly on his ankle. He's up after some treatment, but he's still limping.

Another half chance for Soldado as he darts to the near post to meet Gylfi Sigurdsson's free kick from wide on the left. The angle is very tight, though, and he can only flick the ball wide of the target. It was by no means a guilt-edged opportunity.

Fair play to Palace because they've now taken their manager's orders on board and have got the ball down. The passing is much crisper, with Mile Jedinak and Owen Garvan in particular pulling the strings in the middle of the pitch.

SAVE! The first effort at goal for Palace, although it was a routine stop for Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham net. It was Garvan's cross that caused problems for the Spurs defence as Wilbraham used his strength to head goalwards. The ball flies straight at Lloris though and the Spurs keeper collects with ease.

SAVE! What a smart stop from Speroni to keep Palace level and frustrate Sigurdsson. The Icelandic international benefits from a bit of pinball on the edge of the home side's area and attempts to curl the ball into the top corner of the net. It appears that he has succeeded until Speroni sticks up a hand to divert the ball over the top.

How frustrating can Lennon be at times? He's got so much pace, but quite often the final ball is lacking. On three occasions he has got beyond Palace left-back Dean Moxey, but each time his pass lets him down and the chance has gone.

The referee Mark Clattenburg has just taken Gayle to one side and had a quiet word in his ear. The Palace striker attempted to win a free kick by clipping the back of Kyle Walker's legs, before flinging himself to the floor. Other officials would have cautioned him for that so it's a bit of an escape.

We will have three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

A big chance for Spurs to take the lead just before the half-time whistle was blown was wasted by Chadli, who really should be doing better. Kyle Walker stands up a cross to the back post, where the Belgian rises above the Palace defence. All he has to do is guide the ball downwards and he scores, but his effort goes over the crossbar. Clattenburg responds by calling time on the half, with the score level at 0-0.

On reflection, Holloway has many reasons to be pleased with his Palace side for what they produced during the opening 45 minutes. Yes they have been a little wasteful at times, but they've worked hard as a team and defended well. They've limited Spurs to just the one clear-cut opening as well.

For Spurs, there are many shades of last season. They've been the dominant force, but have struggled to carve out any opportunities for Soldado. A lot of what they have done has come from the right side of the pitch, but as yet Lennon's delivery has been poor. It's obvious to say, but they miss Bale massively.

It is a sentiment that has been echoed by Steve Claridge over on BBC Sport, who has said: "Palace will take this all day long, they have set their stall out to be difficult to play against. Tottenham have run out of ideas, they've cancelled each other out. They've not had Gareth Bale, shall we say, to open the opposition up, they have lacked a little bit of invention."

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Right, the players are back with us and Palace get this contest restarted.

A positive start from Palace as Jedanik picks out Moxey wide on the left. The full-back drills in a cross, but it is too close to Lloris and he gets down to mop up the danger. Nevertheless, it's a sign of intent from the Eagles during the early exchanges of the second half.

A bad start to the second half has gets worse for Moxey, who blocks a cross from Lennon with his arm. Soldado will take this for Spurs...

As cool as you like from the Spaniard, who opens up his goalscoring account in the Premier League with a neatly taken penalty that was dispatched into the bottom right hand corner of the net. Speroni could only watch as he dived in the opposite direction. Not the start that Palace were looking for - they're going to need to come out and attack a bit more now.

Palace have responded by forcing a couple of corners, but they weren't able to make the most of them. It may be one of their best opportunities to score though because Spurs did not look entirely comfortable as the ball was hoisted into their area.

SUBSTITUTION: The first switch of the afternoon comes from Spurs and it's another debut, this time for Capoue. The French international has taken the place of Dembele in the midfield. The Belgian seemed to be wincing as he came off, so he may have picked up a knock.

Dear oh dear Capoue. He's looked lively since he entered the action, but his first shot in English football is not one that he will want to remember. He chances his arm 25 yards from goal, but the ball almost clears the stand, it went that high!

SUBSTITUTIONS: It's a dramatic decision from Holloway, who brings off Wilbraham, Garvan and Stephen Dobbie in one go. On comes Wales international Jonathan Williams, Chamakh and the experienced Kevin Phillips.

CHANCE! Spurs should be 2-0 up without any doubt. Walker plays in Soldado, who in turn squares the ball to Sigurdsson 12 yards from goal. He only has Speroni to beat, but his effort drifts wide of the upright. That should have been game, set and match for the away side.

The trio of changes have made a difference for Palace, in a positive way. They have surrendered a bit of ground in midfield, but they now possess much more of an attacking threat. It's set up to be a good ending to this one. The Palace fans are making plenty of noise - they believe.

As a result of the alterations, Gayle is now playing up front. He has electric pace and Phillips has just tried to pick him out with a lofted pass. The Palace striker gets there first, but just as he thinks of shooting, Danny Rose nips in and the dangers passes.

SUBSTITUTION: A switch for Spurs as goalscorer Soldado is given a breather for the closing stages. His place has gone to Defoe, who is bound to be unhappy to have been selected on the bench.

SUBSTITUTION: Final change for Spurs as left-back Rose limps off to be replaced by Younes Kaboul. It's good to see him back following his year out of the game with a serious injury.

CHANCE! Nine times out of 10, Defoe would have scored Tottenham's second just now. He showed great pace to get beyond three defenders and leave him 12 yards from goal. His shot is scuffed though and the ball trickles a couple of yards wide of the post. A let off for Palace, who are running out of time.

SAVE! The first real save that Lloris has had to make and what an important one. It's Kagisho Dikgacoi's powerful strike that he parries to safety, before getting up to push clear the rebound. Palace are rallying as the board goes up for three minutes of stoppage time.

Well, Palace have no reason to be disappointed. They showed the right spirit and it was ultimately a penalty that prevented them from collecting a share of the spoils. Spurs do deserve the points, they were the dominant force without any doubt. They will also be pleased to have seen Soldado get off the mark - the first of many this probably.

And that is all we have time for from Selhurst Park. Thanks for joining us this season and be sure to check back with Sports Mole for analysis of the clash. What's more, we also have live text coverage of Chelsea vs. Hull underway here. Until next time, goodbye.