Everton vs Spurs – Analysis, Prediction, Team News

As part of our midweek Premier League predictions, we take a look at Spurs’ visit to Goodison Park. Everton have won 3 of their 4 home Premier League matches under Sean Dyche – upset? Read on with our Everton vs Spurs prediction.

Everton vs Spurs Match Preview

Following the international break for Euro 2024 qualifying, Everton host Spurs as they continue their fight against relegation. Five points from their last three Premier League matches – a 2-2 away draw to Nottingham Forest and impressive results against Brentford (1-0 home win) and Chelsea (2-2 away draw) means that Dyche’s men have opened up a three-point gap between themselves and Southampton at the foot of the table. With the Saints having played a game more and 19th-placed Leicester enduring the worst run of form in the league, this game is a massive opportunity.

While on the balance of play, Chelsea will regret not finishing off the Toffees, Everton were reasonable value for their point at Stamford Bridge. Though qualities such as grit and determination are well-established football cliches, Everton are proving that they have these in abundance. Notably, they are now starting to pick up results away from home, and there is a sense that the Merseysiders could inch their way clear of the relegation zone despite the highly publicised issues surrounding the club.

Partly as a result of an extraordinary outburst criticising the club’s entire culture, Spurs have parted ways with outgoing manager Antonio Conte, with Cristian Stellini taking temporary charge. Having blown a two-goal lead last time out against relegation-threatened Southampton, Spurs are somewhat fortunate that Brighton, Brentford and Liverpool all failed to close the gap to 5th place, and that Manchester United are showing signs of a potential end-of-season collapse following yet another insipid display away from home in a 2-0 defeat to top-four rivals Newcastle United.

Spurs remain well-placed to secure Champions League football for a second season in a row, but their recent away form will be hugely concerning to them. Having earned just one point from three away matches against teams who are all involved in a nine-team relegation battle (Leicester, Wolves and Southampton), they can ill-afford to drop further points here, particularly as they’ve already played an extra match than top-four rivals Manchester United and Newcastle, and two more than Brighton in 6th place.

Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Everton:

Might Not Play:

Will Not Play: Calvert-Lewin, Townsend

Spurs:

Might Not Play: Richarlison

Will Not Play: Bentancur, Bissouma, Davies, Emerson Royal, Sessegnon

Everton vs Spurs Lineups (Predicted)

Everton (4-3-3): Pickford; Godfrey, Tarkowski, Keane, Coleman; Gueye, Onana, Doucoure; Iwobi, McNeil, Gray

Spurs (3-4-3): Lloris; Lenglet, Dier, Romero; Perisic, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Porro; Son, Kane, Kulusevski

Everton vs Spurs Analysis

Everton are Unlikely to Spring any Surprises

This isn’t intended to be a slight upon Everton in any way. New manager Sean Dyche has largely succeeded in introducing a brand of football that has galvanised his players and is looking likely to keep them clear of relegation. What we mean by this is that, for the most part, Everton will be more than happy for Spurs to have the ball in more benign areas of the pitch, and look to close down aggressively as that start to enter the final third.

With Son, Kulusevski and Richarlison all failing to hit the heights of last season with Spurs and Everton respectively, Spurs are more reliant on Harry Kane’s talents than ever. Everton will feel reasonably confident that if they can force Kane to come looking for the ball in deeper areas, they can reduce the playmaker-forward’s effectiveness. If Spurs were a more consistent, cohesive attacking unit and Son was combining with Kane in the manner which saw the South Korean take the Golden Boot last season, then they’d be able to cause Everton multiple problems. This season that particular partnership hasn’t been nearly as effective.

Spurs Will Be Wary of Overcommitting

There’s no kind way to say it – even when operating with three central defenders, Spurs have a soft centre. This issue is more pronounced away from home, as they have conceded 24 goals in 14 away matches. Everton are the lowest scorers in the division and have been largely terrible at carrying a consistent goal threat… except lately, where they’ve scored five goals in their last three Premier League matches. Things are starting to click for Everton in the final third and Spurs will need to be wary of over-committing their wing-backs as they’re still missing a couple of key midfielders in front of their backline, including their most influential midfielder Bentancur.

Therefore, we envisage that Spurs will opt to rely on Kane dropping deeper into midfield to provide much-needed creativity as opposed to getting the wingbacks involved as auxiliary wingers. The solidity that Spurs had under Antonio Conte at the tail end of his first season in charge meant that they conceded just five goals in their final 10 matches as they surged towards Champions League qualification. As that solidity has evaporated, it makes sense for them to exercise caution and look to undo Everton’s low block with a bit of magic as opposed to throwing bodies forward and overwhelming them with overloads.

Our Prediction

Earlier in the season, this match would’ve almost been considered to be an automatic Spurs victory, even away from home. In fact, in the reverse fixture in October Everton hardly had a sniff at goal, with zero shots on target from four attempts while Spurs enjoyed seven. The 2-0 victory certainly didn’t flatter Spurs on the day. Fast forward almost six months, and given Spurs’ recent issues away from home against relegation-threatened teams and we find ourselves questioning their ability to win away against a team which has won three of their last four home matches despite their predicament.

There is a possibility of a rebound effect. Allegedly, some of the squad were happy to see the combustible Italian leave the club, but it’s unlikely that they can overhaul their game in such a short period of time. We also acknowledge that despite the victory, Everton were a little fortunate to beat Brentford who have issues with breaking down the low block anyway. Therefore, we back Spurs to make a breakthrough at some point but for Everton to claim another crucial point.

Everton 1-1 Spurs

Everton vs Spurs Betting Tip – Draw Odds: