Everton are preparing for their second away day of the Premier League season, this time as they face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening for their first trip to the capital of the campaign. The Blues kept their impressive unbeaten start to the season going with a last-gasp wonderstrike from debutant Ainsley Maitland-Niles on Sunday, which snatched a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
It was far from a remarkable performance from Everton last week but, mind you, neither was United’s. The same problems for Everton showed in giving away cheap chances and goals and, in all honesty, two incredible strikes from their summer signings got them out of jail. Tyrique George scored his first goal in the league for the Toffees well after Bryan Mbeumo put the Red Devils 1-0 up just after half time, but United responded instantly with a Benjamin Sesko header to put them 2-1 up. Then, up steps Ainsley Maitland-Niles, on his debut for the club, 30 yards out, with the last kick of the game; straight into the top corner. It was one of those moments you live for as a football fan.
All in all, it has been a solid start to the season from Everton. 5 points from 3 games, and into the next round of the cup is fairly decent, and the back-to-back last minute equalisers have certainly kept the feel-good factor purring on the pitch, despite what has gone on off it. Spurs, on the other hand, have had a nightmare start to the season, following on from their two previous campaigns in which they have finished 17th in both. After three league games, they have failed to score a goal, only picking up their first point at the weekend away at Nottingham Forest. They should even count themselves lucky to have even come away with that, after Neco Williams had a goal ruled out for a controversial handball; just a disgraceful start for a club which has spent so much in summer.
Everton and Tottenham Hotspur – History
Last season, Spurs confirmed their Premier League status with this fixture, as they came away with a 1-0 win on the final day.
Everton have lost their last 5 games away at Spurs, scoring just one goal and conceding 14 in that time.
The Blues’ last win at this stadium came in the form of a 1-0 win under Carlo Ancelotti, which kickstarted that now iconic start to the season in 2020.
Team News
David Moyes believes Jack Grealish is ready to start this weekend.
Christian Norgaard is still unavailable, and the hope is that he will return after the international break.
Everton Key Player
Tyrique George – George’s first goal in Everton colours was the cherry on top of yet another great performance last Sunday. Before the introductions of Jack Grealish and Hayden Hackney, George was Everton’s bright spark going forward with his silky-smooth dribbling and electric pace. Filling the void of Iliman Ndiaye is, no doubt, going to be tough, but the 20-year-old has all the ability and potential to give it a good go.
It’s no secret that Jack Grealish is going to get the majority of minutes at left wing this season, as was the case last season, meaning that George is likely to spend this season on the right-hand side, barring any injuries. On top of this, it is expected that George is Everton’s backup striker up until January at the very least after the failed Deadline Day signing of Folarin Balogun; luckily, he has at least some experience in that role from his Cobham days, and at 6’1, he will have some physical presence at the very least. So, despite still only making a handful of starts for the Toffees and lacking senior experience compared to some attackers in the squad, George has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to cover a variety of positions in the wafer-thin squad – an invaluable trait to have at such a young age.
Whether he plays on the left or right this weekend, George has more than enough ability to get at this shaky Spurs defence. Neither Pedro Porro or Destiny Udogie are blessed with pace, meaning that one mazy run could be the key to unlocking the defence. With Jack Grealish’s unique ability to draw fouls and slow the pace of the game down on the other side, George provides the complete opposite in terms of speed and this contrast could be key for Everton this season.
One To Watch For Spurs
Savio – I don’t particularly rate any of Spurs’ attackers, or any of their players at all, very highly any more. I don’t think that’s a controversial opinion either; they have, after all, finished 17th in the last couple of seasons, and currently reside in that position at the start of this campaign, too. However, Spurs have splashed the cash this summer, mostly on overpriced Premier League players, so this section may as well focus on one of them. To help bolster an attack which has scored zero goals in three games, the Lilywhites signed the renowned goal machine Savio, formerly ‘Savinho’, who registered two goals in 53 appearances at Manchester City, before his £85million move.
I would still be lying if I said Savio wasn’t a threat, however. His dribbling and skill on the ball is up there with the very best in this league, and whilst nine assists in his time in the league is not a mind-blowing amount, it shows that he has at least some form of end product which has come through in limited minutes at City. So, a silky, right-sided, left-footed winger running at Vitaliy Mykolenko – does that remind you of anything? Last Sunday, Manchester United took the league straight after half time through Bryan Mbeumo running at his man, cutting in, and finishing calmly. There’s a slight worry that this pattern could repeat itself on Saturday.
Final Thoughts
Spurs will be okay this season. Not great, but not as tragic as they have been recently. There is too much quality and, whilst I am not De Zerbi’s biggest fan by any means, he is too good a manager to languish around the bottom of the table constantly. Everton will be hoping that their upturn in form holds off for another week, at the very least; the issue with playing teams such as United and Spurs is that you never know which version of them will turn up. Would anyone really be surprised if Spurs turned up for the first time this season, put two or three past Everton, and then went back to losing every week after? I know I wouldn’t.
That being said, I will predict a 1-1 draw here. Yep, another draw. Spurs are due a goal, at least, and Everton are due a result at this ground. A point is a point for Everton at the end of the day, so I wouldn’t be dissatisfied with it, but it really depends on how you frame it. On the one hand, grabbing a point at a ground where they have conceded 14 in 5 years is positive for the Blues, but only coming away with a point against 17th place’s favourite team seems underwhelming, on the surface. This is another game which could end up going either way, a theme which is seeming more and more common with Premier League matches every season which goes by.
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