Everton, currently positioned below the relegation line, will face Tottenham Hotspur, who have moved above a desired position in the Premier League standings, in the early kickoff at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The Toffees slipped into the relegation zone following a goalless draw with Fulham in their recent midweek match. On the other hand, Tottenham secured a 3-2 victory over Brentford in a tense London derby after trailing initially.
Sean Dyche's team had extra motivation to defeat Fulham after their EFL Cup elimination by Everton in December. Despite 46 total shots in the match, neither team managed to score, with Jordan Pickford's impressive saves and a notable miss from Beto preventing any goals.
Although earning a point at Craven Cottage was commendable, Everton's position has now dropped to 18th, partly due to Luton Town's significant 4-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. The initial boost from the points deduction has faded for Dyche's team, who have only secured one win in their last nine matches across all competitions.
The recent draw with Fulham marked Everton's fifth consecutive Premier League game without a victory. Additionally, in their last three league matches, the Toffees failed to score, highlighting a return to their previous struggles in front of goal. In contrast, Tottenham continues their impressive scoring streak in the top flight, setting a club record.
Football, darts, and UFC comprised the trio of sports associated with Tottenham's thrilling 3-2 triumph against Brentford on Wednesday. Destiny Udogie, Richarlison, and Brennan Johnson's efforts overshadowed Neal Maupay and Ivan Toney's goals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Despite guiding Tottenham back into the Champions League places, Ange Postecoglou expressed discontent with his team at full time. He criticized them for protesting with the officials and showing excessive "bravado" in the intense derby. Off-the-ball drama involving Maupay and James Maddison, with the former mimicking the latter's dart-throwing celebration, led Postecoglou to suggest that players should engage in skirmishes in the UFC cage instead.
Although Tottenham secured the Lions' spot in the top four, replacing Aston Villa due to a higher goal tally, they head north with a record of only one victory in their last five Premier League away fixtures. However, they managed to score 10 times in that sequence.
In their final pre-Christmas fixture in 2023, Postecoglou's team secured a 2-1 win over Everton in North London. Nevertheless, Goodison Park hasn't been a favorable venue for Tottenham in recent memory, as the Toffees remain unbeaten in five home matches against them since a 6-2 defeat in December 2018.
Arnaut Danjuma, who previously played on loan for Tottenham, may miss the upcoming match against his former team due to an ankle injury suffered in the recent draw with Fulham. The severity of the injury appeared concerning, according to Dyche. Dele Alli, another former Tottenham player, won't be able to face his old club as he is recovering from groin surgery. Additionally, Andre Gomes and Abdoulaye Doucoure are sidelined due to calf and hamstring issues, respectively, but Seamus Coleman might make a return from a thigh injury.
Dyche is hopeful that Amadou Onana, who sustained a knee injury, will recover in time for the weekend match. Idrissa Gueye is expected to return to domestic duty after Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations elimination. Meanwhile, Tottenham's manager, Postecoglou, anticipates the return of midfielder Pape Sarr, but Yves Bissouma and Son Heung-min are still engaged in international competitions.
Injuries plague Tottenham as well, with Manor Solomon, Alejo Veliz, Giovani Lo Celso, and Ryan Sessegnon all unavailable. Although there was concern when Maddison left the pitch against Brentford, Postecoglou downplayed it as cramp. Sarr's return could end Oliver Skipp's run in the starting lineup, and despite Johnson's impactful performance off the bench against Brentford, he might not secure a starting position, especially with Timo Werner's impressive display in the previous match.
Everton VS Tottenham
