His battling performance in his second match, against local rivals Arsenal, earned him the man of the match award, since when he had some excellent performances in the Spurs midfield. He was cup-tied for the 2009 Football League Cup Final. Palacios scored his first goal in English football against Hull City on 19 August 2009 after a through ball by Robbie Keane. After scoring, Palacios pointed towards the sky in honour of his murdered brother Edwin, whose body had been found earlier in the year. Manager Harry Redknapp appreciated Palacios' ability to make Tottenham difficult to play against, comparing his style and effectiveness to that of Graham Roberts some 25 years earlier. During the 2009–10 season, he played 43 matches for Tottenham and helped the club reach the UEFA Champions League for the first time. The following season, Palacios was restricted to 16 starts in the Premier League, though he did play a key role in Tottenham's run to the quarter-final of the Champions League.