Spurs will look to secure their first Premier League win of the season as they welcome Everton to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the teatime kickoff on Saturday.
After back-to-back 17th-placed finishes, Spurs fans would’ve hoped their side would have got off to a positive start this campaign given the money they have spent in the transfer window.
However, Roberto De Zerbi’s team began the campaign with a dismal 3-0 defeat away at London rivals Brentford, before suffering a disappointing 0-2 defeat at home to Newcastle United, leaving them propping up the Premier League table.
Despite remaining goalless this campaign, Spurs claimed their first point of the campaign last weekend with a 0-0 draw away at Nottingham Forest, moving them up to 18th position in the table.
Whilst their hosts have been splashing the cash, it’s a lack of signings that’s frustrated the Evertonians, with David Moyes finishing the transfer window with just 18 outfield players at his disposal.
However, it was one of their new signings, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who rescued a point for them last weekend, as his stunning strike deep in stoppage time salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United – on an afternoon I landed a 10/11 winner.
That’s the second successive weekend the Toffees have scored in injury time to rescue a point – having done so away at Bournemouth the week before – to go along with their opening day success at home to Crystal Palace.
How the bookies view it: Spurs favourites
Despite being winless so far in the Premier League season, Spurs are favourites to secure all three points here, with bet365 pricing a home win at Evens.
Everton are 13/5 to leave North London with all three points, whilst a third consecutive draw for the Toffees also pays 13/5.
Head to head: Home tends to be an advantage for Spurs
This is a fixture Spurs enjoyed last season, as they beat Everton at home and away, keeping clean sheets in each win.
What’s more, Tottenham have also won each of their previous four Premier League matches against the Toffees at their North London base, scoring 12 times and conceding just once.
Players to watch: Johnson to haunt Spurs on his return?
Brennan Johnson was the hero for Spurs in the final of the Europa League, as his solitary goal against Manchester United gave the North London club their first European trophy since 1984.
So many times do we see an ex-player come back to haunt his old club, and the now-Everton attacker looks value at 13/5 at bet365 to Score or Assist.
Predicted line-ups:
Spurs will be without the injured Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons and the ineligible Richarlison, but James Maddison has returned to training following his shoulder problem.
Everton will still be without the injured Christian Norgaard, whilst James Garner is a doubt.
Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky, Porro, van Hecke, van de Ven, Robertson, Tonali, Bentancur, Savio, Fernandes, Tel, Marmoush
Everton: Pickford, Rohl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Armstrong, Maitland-Niles, George, Dewsbury-Hall, Johnson, Barry
Anything else catch the eye?
This is a tricky clash to call – and whilst I’m not a big fan of betting on unders – opposing goals could be the best approach for this clash.
As alluded to, Spurs are yet to score a goal across their opening three Premier League matches this season, with each of their last two clashes seeing Under 2.5 Goals land.
Under 2.5 Goals has also paid out in 2/3 (67%) of Everton’s Premier League fixtures this term, and a repeat pays an appealing 10/11 at bet365.
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