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Both Spurs and the Toffees will be looking for a victory to stay in contention for European football next season, as Goodison Park welcomes Mourinho’s side on Friday evening. Neither of these teams is in great form, but Tottenham can take a breather and give their performance away from home.
As the idea of a top-four finish is all but slipping away for these two teams, Everton find themselves at the 8th position, seven points behind West Ham in fourth, while Spurs sit on 7th, three points behind reigning champions Liverpool.
Recent form suggests that neither side are doing well enough to guarantee at least a Europa League. Everton, in particular, has dramatically declined over the last few weeks, with a single victory in their last five league matches. The Toffees have conceded five times and scored just three during this dismal run, with a mammoth job remaining if they are to qualify for Champions League next season.
Tottenham Hotspur have also witnessed their recent form plummet following a 2-2 draw at Newcastle and the vital 3-1 loss to Manchester United at home last Sunday. But one can certainly point out that even though Spurs are on a two-game winless run, their record away from home lately, winning two and drawing one, will place them in a slightly better position than Everton heading into this fixture.
The most crucial problem Spurs are currently facing is that they have been shaky at the back, with just one clean sheet in their previous five outings. Although outscoring their opponent might not be a problem, Mourinho, known well for his defensive strategies, allowed a struggling Steve Bruce’s Newcastle to net twice before conceding three against the Red Devils at home.
Key Players
Richarlison. The Brazilian centre-forward is one of the key players for his side, scoring six and assisting three in 23 games so far. It might appear to be an average performance from someone of his stature, but Carlo Ancelotti’s men have struggled to find the net frequently throughout the entire season. Still uncertain about his exact best position, Richarlison finds himself comfortable either by playing wide or behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin or even upfront on his own. A composed finisher with extraordinary flair, Ancelotti will be counting on him to make a difference between the two sides on Friday.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin. This Everton forward has burst into the limelight following the Italian’s takeover at Goodison Park, netting 19 times across all competitions this season and will probably be a part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming Euros in June. Playing for Sheffield United, Stalybridge Celtic and Northampton Town before securing a move to Everton in 2016, the 24-year-old has made 139 appearances scoring 39 goals so far. If Everton are to salvage a European spot for next season, they need to rely on the Englishman’s peak form in the remaining seven league fixtures.
Son Heung Min’s formidable partnership with Harry Kane has been key to the North London side’s attacking threats this campaign. No other duo has combined to score more often in one season in the Premier League history. With 14 goals and nine assists in 30 league games, Son will be looking to add more to his tally against Everton.
Spurs captain is currently the top scorer in this season’s Premier League with 19 goals, one ahead of Mohamed Salah and three more than Bruno Fernandes. Kane also assisted 13, two further than Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (11), and there isn’t much to add about his importance at Spurs.
Prediction
The Toffees are struggling to watch at times. They have, however, managed to put in a better performance than last season. Still, there’s a long way to go for a place in the top six with only seven games in hand. Carlo Ancelotti might suggest that his side has been rigged with injuries throughout the year. Even though they started really well, scoring five goals for fun earlier in September. But those days seem like decades, as they are now a mere shadow of their former selves. With Andre Gomes, Jordan Pickford, Bernard, Jean Phillipe Gbamin, Joshua King, Yerry Mina, Fabian Delph and Abdoulaye Doucoure all out injured, the hosts have to defy all odds to stand a chance against Tottenham.
Spurs have to snatch three points as pressure mounts on Mourinho to qualify for Europe next season. Failure to do so could prove to be the final nail in his coffin. If both Kane and Son are at their very best and with 33 league goals between them this season, there’s nothing much the opponent can do except watch and admire.
