Everton vs Spurs – Match Preview

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The Football Faithful

·15 April 2021

Everton vs Spurs – Match Preview

Tottenham take on Everton at Goodison Park this weekend, both sides European qualification hopes currently hanging by a thread.

Here’s all you need to know about Friday night’s clash:

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Everton: LLLDD

After looking like real top-four contenders earlier this season, the Toffees recent blip looks to have ended any hopes of Champions League football next term.

Their most recent league encounter saw them held to a goalless draw by an impressive Brighton side at the Amex, condemning Carlo Ancelotti’s men to a fifth successive Premier League game without a win, their last triumph having come against West Bromwich Albion on 4 March.

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Such a drop in form has, in part, been due to a crippling injury list, Everton currently without a whole host of key men, including midfield stars Andre Gomes, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan, while England international Dominic Calvert-Lewin was also absent on Monday night.

That absence of central midfielders, in particular, has been a real issue, with Carlo Ancelotti forced to deploy six defenders against the Seagulls, Mason Holgate having to slot in in the centre of the park.

Squad depth had seemingly been an issue before this injury crisis, and the Italian faces a real task just to put together an adequate starting XI, as their previously strong season looks to be ending with a whimper.

In terms of team news, the likes of Allan, Gomes and Jordan Pickford should at least be able to make a return to the substitutes bench, although Calvert-Lewin is set to miss the visit of Spurs. Midfielder Jean-Phillipe Gbamin is set to be out for the rest of the season, after having already missed the last 20 months through injury.

Tottenham: LLWDL

Spurs suffered a real blow in their hopes of making it into the top-four at the weekend, after their 3-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Jose Mourinho’s side had taken the lead through Heung-min Son just before half-time, yet the Red Devils came out strong in the second-half, with goals from Fred, Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood compounding the north London club’s recent woes.

While the major story after that game was the public spat between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mourinho over United’s disallowed goal in the first-half, that has done little to overshadow what was another disappointing display from Spurs, particularly in the second period.

With rumours swirling regarding the future of star man Harry Kane and with Mourinho under pressure, Tottenham could really do with a positive result to not only ease the tension, but also to close the gap on the sides above them, with six points separating themselves and West Ham United in fourth.

Following their shock Europa League exit a few weeks ago, the top-four is now their only route into the Champions League, while even just securing a place in the new Europa Conference League could come down to whether they can lift the Carabao Cup next weekend.

As for team news, full-back pair Ben Davies and Matt Doherty remain doubts through injury.

Last Meeting

Everton 5-4 Tottenham, 10 February 2021, FA Cup

Not only did Everton claim victory in the two side’s league meeting on the opening weekend, they also grabbed the win in a pulsating encounter in the FA Cup Fifth round tie back in February.

Spurs took the lead after just four minutes through Davinson Sanchez, before three goals in the space of seven minutes put the hosts 3-1 ahead, with Erik Lamela pulling a goal back on the stroke of half-time.

Unlikely scorer Sanchez then added a second on 57 minutes to bring the tie level, before Richarlison netted his second of the match to once again put the home side ahead just over ten minutes later.

Spurs’ star man Harry Kane then took the game to extra-time with an 83rd minute strike, although it was the Toffees who would go on to net the ninth and final goal of the match seven minutes into the additional 30, Bernard firing home with a brilliant half-volley to seal the win.