Everton will be looking for their first Premier League win of 2018 when they travel to London to face Tottenham Hotspur in match day twenty-three of the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur are currently placed fifth in the league, 3 points behind the nearest Champions League spot currently occupied by Liverpool. They have won only 12 of their 22 games this season, winning 5 and drawing 5 and are currently coming off a comfortable 3-0 victory against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup.
Everton, with 27 points to their name are placed ninth in the league. They have won only 7 of their 22 games so far, drawing 6 and losing 9. Their last match was a narrow 2-1 loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup and they haven’t a single game since the 18th of December.
Team News & Tactics
Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino will be without the services of Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose and Harry Winks, who have been sidelined with hamstring, knee and ankle injuries respectively and are still undergoing rehabilitation. Besides the trio, Pochettino has a fully fit squad to pick from.
A number of changes are expected to the side that started in their victory against Wimbledon earlier in the week. Hugo Lloris is expected to replace Michael Vorm between the sticks, while Serge Aurier, Davison Sanchez and Ben Davies are all likely come back into the starting XI in defence.
Mousa Demebele and Eric Dier will likely make up the double pivot in midfield, while Christian Eriksen and Heung-min Son are expected to replace Moussa Sissoko and Erik Lamela on the wings. Dele Alli is expected to start in a central attacking midfield role, with Harry Kane leading the line.
Probable Starting XI(4-2-3-1): Hugo Lloris; Serge Aurier, Davison Sanchez, Jan Vertonghen, Ben Davies; Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele; Heung-min Son, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen; Harry Kane
Everton
Sam Allardyce will miss out on the services of Leighton Baines, Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman. On a positive note, Idrissa Gueye is fit and available for selection, as is striker and latest club signing Cenk Tosun, who has arrived from Besiktas for a rumoured £27 million fee.
The Toffees are expected to field a similar team to the one that started in their narrow loss to Liverpool last week. Jordan Pickford will likely start in goal, with Jonjoe Kenny, Phil Jagielka and Cuco Martina all starting in defence and Ashley Williams may replace Mason Holgate in the center of defence.
Morgan Schneiderlin will likely retain his place in midfield, while Idrissa Gueye is expected to replace James McCarthy. Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Rooney and Yannick Bolaise are also likely to start in attack, with youngster Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the line.
Probable Starting XI(4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford; Jonjoe Kenny, Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams, Cuco Martina; Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin; Yannick Bolaise, Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson; Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Key Statistics
- Everton have won only 1 of their last 19 away matches in the Premier League.
- Tottenham Hotspur are are unbeaten in their last 10 matches against Everton in all competitions.
- Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten in their last 10 home matches in the Premier League.
- In the Premier League, the Tottenham have lost to Everton at home on only 3 occasions, winning 15 times and drawing 7.
- Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has faced them 8 times during his time at Swansea and Everton and have been on the winning side only once.
Player To Watch
Cenk Tosun
? | First chance to see @CenkTosun_ in training for the Blues! ???
? more: https://t.co/ubBaIctZF6 pic.twitter.com/szQ5dZws8K
— Everton (@Everton) January 12, 2018
Everton’s newest signing was having a good season with Besiktas prior to his big money move, scoring 14 goals and assisting 3 in 24 appearances for them across all competitions. Tosun is expected to feature in some capacity tonight and it will be interesting to see how he features on his debut for the Toffees.
Betting Odds
Tottenham Hotspur Asian Handicap – 1.5 vs Everton @ 1.860
Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Everton
Mauricio Pochettino’s men will certainly look to repeat the same kind of performance they put in against Everton earlier in the season at Goodison Park. They certainly have the squad to do so, and in the kind of form both teams are in, it shouldn’t be too hard for Tottenham to win this match with a convincing margin.
Tottenham are also 2 points ahead of 6th placed Arsenal and will have to win if they wish to stay ahead of their rivals and keep their chances of making the top four alive. Everton also have some key injuries in defence, which may make things even harder against the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli. We predict an easy 3-0 victory for Pochettino’s men at Wembley.
