Tottenham Hotspur will be eager to kick-start a winning run when they take on Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The 2023/24 Premier League season will continue on Saturday, with Gameweek 23 beginning this weekend. Everton and Tottenham Hotspur will get us underway with the lunchtime kick-off on the day at Goodison Park.
Everton will likely spend the rest of the 2023/24 season mired in the relegation battle. The Toffees have done well to take the ten-point deduction in their stride and remain outside the relegation zone for much of the campaign. But form has deserted them in recent weeks, with Sean Dyche’s men failing to win their last six Premier League games.
On the other hand, Tottenham Hotspur bounced back from last weekend’s FA Cup ouster by beating Brentford 3-2 earlier this week. That result helped Ange Postecoglou’s men reclaim their spot in the top four. The visitors are currently on a four-game unbeaten run in the Premier League and will look to extend that streak.
The reverse fixture saw Tottenham ekeing out a narrow 2-1 win over Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Sean Dyche has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, the Everton manager will be bereft of the services of three first-team players.
The good news is that Idrissa Gueye is fit and available after recovering from a knock. In addition, Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Amadou Onana (knee), and Arnaut Danjuma (ankle) are close to regaining full fitness and should be in the matchday squad. But the trio needs late fitness tests to determine their availability.
Meanwhile, Abdoulaye Doucoure (thigh), Dele Alli (groin), and Andre Gomes (calf) remain in the treatment room. Everton will line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation against Tottenham on Saturday, with Jordan Pickford taking his usual spot between the sticks.
The backline should feature the usual suspects, with Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko being the two full-backs, while James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite will pair up at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Idrissa Gueye should be the sole holding midfielder. Amadou Onana and James Garner will reprise more advanced roles but will support Gueye in the defensive phases. Meanwhile, Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil will likely feature as the two wide attackers, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the line for Everton against Tottenham.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye; Harrison, Onana, Garner, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin
Tottenham Hotspur
Like his counterpart in the Everton dugout, Ange Postecoglou does not have a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Goodison Park. The Tottenham Hotspur manager will be without five first-team players.
There is some good news, as Pape Matar Sarr is back after representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations. But Yves Bissouma (Africa Cup of Nations) and Son Heung-min (AFC Asian Cup) remain on international duty with Mali and South Korea, respectively.
Ryan Sessegnon (thigh), Giovani Lo Celso (hamstring), and Manor Solomon (knee) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, Alejo Veliz has joined Sevilla on loan for the remainder of the season and will return to action for Tottenham next season.
Guglielmo Vicario will take his spot between the sticks, with Tottenham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will be the two full-backs for the away side, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven forming the central defensive unit.
As for the midfield unit, Sarr should pair up with Rodrigo Bentancur in the double pivot. So, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg misses out. James Maddison will reprise the no.10 role, with Dejan Kulusevski and Timo Werner being the two wide attackers. Finally, Richarlison will spearhead the Tottenham attack against Everton on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Werner; Richarlison
Key Stats
- Everton’s only victory in the last 22 Premier League meetings with Tottenham was a 1-0 away victory in September 2020. The Toffees are winless in ten league fixtures against Tottenham at Goodison Park since a 2-1 triumph in December 2012 (D7 L3).
- Everton have won just once in their last nine games in all competitions, while they are winless in five Premier League matches. They have failed to score in their most recent three league fixtures, attempting 41 shots without success.
- Tottenham have won five of their last seven Premier League matches but only one of their most recent five away from home. They are on a club-record run of scoring in 34 successive Premier League fixtures and are the only English top-flight side to have registered a goal in every game this season.
- Everton have kept a league-high six clean sheets since the start of December. They had kept seven in their previous 38 Premier League matches. As for Tottenham, they have managed only one shut-out in their last 13 league matches, conceding 25 goals in total.
- James Maddison has scored ten goals and provided 12 assists in his most recent 24 Premier League away appearances.
Player to Watch
Dejan Kulusevski
Kulusevski has already been clutch for Tottenham ahead of the weekend, playing his part in helping his club hijack Barcelona’s move for Lucas Bergvall. He will now be eager to deliver the goods in the final third for his team after drawing a blank against Brentford.
The Swedish international is enjoying an excellent 2023/24 season and has been among the most consistent performers for Tottenham thus far this term. With Son Heung-min still unavailable due to his international commitments, Kulusevski will have the onus on him to make his mark for the away side.
Prediction
Everton 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
When Everton and Tottenham met in the reverse fixture, the Toffees were in a better run of form. But they have struggled to impose themselves in the last six weeks, dropping into the relegation zone. So, Sean Dyche’s men are getting into a desperate position in the second half of the 2023/24 season.
The last four encounters between Everton and Tottenham at Goodison Park have ended level. Saturday’s game should also be close, but the visitors will have the quality to eke out another narrow win this week. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Ange Postecoglou and his charges. So, Sean Dyche’s abysmal record against Tottenham will continue this weekend.
