Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur
Date: 23/12/2018
K/O: 16:00
Venue: Goodison Park
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Referee: Paul Tierney
Sunday’s only Premier League fixture comes in the form of Everton against Tottenham Hotspur, with the hosts winless in four matches.
Everton’s scintillating start to the season has rather fizzled out in recent weeks, only managing two points from their last four games. Despite this, the Toffees do remain firmly inside the top half and three points on Sunday could see them leap two places into sixth – depending on other results over the weekend.
Considering Sunday’s fixture against Spurs marks their third game against top three opposition in this month alone, Everton’s position in the table warrants significant merit and indicates a positive first half of the season.
Looking at their upcoming fixture list, the most likely result of this match shouldn’t hinder Everton’s Europa League qualification hopes too much, but with seven teams within three points of the Toffees, a win could be a massive boost to push them ahead of the rest of the mid-table pack.
Having said this, Tottenham have not lost to Everton in over six years and won 7-0 on aggregate over last season’s two fixtures. The visitors will be looking to grab their 14th win of the season when they travel north to Merseyside on Sunday afternoon and will be buoyed by the midweek victory over North London rivals, Arsenal, in the Carabao Cup.
Despite going through their best ever start to a Premier League campaign, Tottenham are still six points behind league leaders Liverpool and are not considered by most to be in the title race. When you consider that Spurs have been involved in the title race in a couple of recent seasons, it really highlights the incredible form that Liverpool and Manchester City have hit this campaign.
The managerial cliché holds for Tottenham in that they must concentrate on winning every game without looking too hard at the table. Having narrowly avoided dropping points against Burnley last weekend, Pochettino will want to stamp some attacking authority over Everton, while keeping out the likes of Richarlison and former Spurs man Sigurdsson.
Team News
Everton’s squad remains mainly injury-free with only James McCarthy still recovering from last season’s gruesome leg break and Idrissa Gueye a slight doubt following a knock he picked up a couple weeks ago. Other than this there is nothing else to report on from an Everton standpoint.
In contrast, Tottenham have a much heftier injury list but have been coping fairly well with the players at their disposal. Eric Dier is the latest addition to the unavailable category after having his appendix removed last week.
Jan Vertonghen is also set to miss out with a thigh injury, which may keep him out until the end of January. Fellow centre-backs Foyth and Sanchez are doubtful due to hamstring injuries which may force Pochettino to unconventionally play Davies as a centre-back as he did against Burnley.
Dembele and Wanyama continue to recover from their respective long-term ankle and knee injuries.
Predicted Starting XIs
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne; Gomes, Gueye; Bernard, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Richarlison
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies; Winks, Sissoko; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane
Score Prediction: Everton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Spurs should be able to keep their run of good form going but will certainly be threatened by Everton’s attacking positivity. The hosts took the game to Manchester City last week and will not make it easy for Pochettino’s side.
