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Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton: 12/05/2019 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton

Date: 12/05/2019

K/O: 15:00

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Referee: Andre Marriner

Tottenham host Everton on the final day of the season with an extraordinary shift in goal difference the only way the home side could finish outside the top four.

Most Spurs fans will not have recovered from an unbelievable Champions League semi-final victory in the week by the time this match kicks off, but the job in the Premier League is not yet finished. Three points separate Spurs in fourth and their arch rivals Arsenal in fifth, and Tottenham also sit pretty with a goal difference of 28, while Arsenal are on 20.

Because of this, Everton and Arsenal will have to score at least eight goals between them in their respective games if Arsenal are to finish in the top four, with the latter facing Burnley, a team who, along with Bournemouth, have conceded the most goals outside the bottom three.

Of course, none of this would matter if Spurs could avoid a loss. This sounds simple on paper, but Spurs have been involved in some wacky final-day matches in recent seasons, and the last few games have hardly been smooth sailing for Pochettino’s men. A replica of a certain 5-1 loss on the final day three years ago may not be completely off the cards in this crazy scramble for the top four.

One thing’s for sure is that the manager will not want anything near a repeat of last week’s shambles against Bournemouth – two red cards for Spurs eventually contributed to their demise as the Cherries headed home the winner in stoppage time. Of course, there is always the chance of qualifying for Champions League football with a win in Madrid on 1st June, but Spurs should get the job done on Sunday, even without Son.

Everton, as with much of the table, have little to play for. They are already guaranteed a top-half place, but will want to avoid allowing Leicetser to climb above them, with two points separating them as it stands. A very strong end to the season meant that they went within touching distance of European football for a second year running, but have missed out to Premier League newcomers Wolves, who have claimed seventh position.

20 points from the last ten games means that Everton are in much better form than Spurs, who have only managed ten points in the same period. Marco Silva has received a lot of criticism in his time at Everton, but he must be commended for a positive finish to the season with Everton that could act as a springboard to a better start next season.

There may also be a battle going on within the Everton squad – namely between Richarlison and Sigurdsson, whose goal tallies both currently sit at 13 for the season. Some extra determination from these players to end on a higher figure may give Everton the attacking threat to get something from the match.

Team News

Tottenham Hotspur

Son’s outlandish red card last week means that the South Korean must sit out with a suspension for the final match, with Juan Foyth sharing the same fate after also being dismissed with a straight red in the same game.

Harry Kane has his sights on a potential return to football ready for the Champions League final, but the striker will not be available on Sunday as he continues recovery from his ankle injury.

Jan Vertonghen has been in the wars in recent matches and seems to have picked up an injury to his leg after he was seen leaving Amsterdam on crutches. Fellow centre-back Davinson Sanchez did not feature in that match and is also a doubt for Sunday’s fixture, while Harry Winks continues to recover from a groin injury.

Everton

Richarlison is the only injury concern for Everton. The Brazilian had to leave the pitch early in the second half against Burnley with what seemed to be a rib injury, leaving doubts about him playing their last match of the season.

Predicted Starting XIs

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-1-2): Lloris; Davies, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Walker-Peters; Eriksen, Dier, Sissoko; Alli; Lucas, Llorente.

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Digne, Zouma, Keane, Coleman; Gueye, Schneiderlin; Bernard, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Calvert-Lewin.

Score Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Everton 1

Tottenham have been pretty ineffective in the league of late and will likely fail to replicate the 6-2 performance they managed at Goodison, especially without Son, whereas Everton have been clinical in their recent matches, and should be ablte take the game to Tottenham.

Harry Mahon

90maat's team correspondent for Tottenham Hotspur, graduate of Loughborough University and current student at the University of Surrey.

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