Premier League: This is Everton and Spurs' Time to Shine!

Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur

Two of the stalwarts of the English top flight meet in the big Sunday EPL clash. It’s Everton vs Spurs, a fixture which always promises much and rarely fails to deliver.

The Toffees and Lillywhites are renowned for their good football and careful club management off the pitch. And all they need to add now is silverware.

Hey, it would be unfair to call these two teams ‘also-rans’ of the Premier League, but let’s put it this way: their aspirations have exceeded their achievements so far. And now they are coached by two of the brightest young managers in world football. Mauricio Pochettino has gradually improved Spurs while spending very little while Marco Silva is assembling a highly talented squad at Everton.

The Premier League 2018 odds at SBOBET have Spurs as third favourites to lift the title, way out at odds of 34.00. But could this be a silverware year for one of these two teams? Spurs are still in the Carabao Cup, but they are at trophy winning odds of 4.40 with Manchester City to face in the semi-final. And Poch’s team is the fourth favourite at 9.00 to win the FA Cup, while the Toffees are a handy outside bet at 21.00.

But this weekend, league matters are paramount with a big three points at stake.

Talking Points

Pochettino is Spurs’ man

After the departure of Jose Mourinho from Manchester United, Spurs have tetchily dismissed speculation of their coach moving to Old Trafford in the summer. It’s all going so well for the Lillywhites, and you could ask why Poch may be tempted to head north in the first place. His current team has a better chance of progressing in the Champions League, as well as qualifying for next season’s European competition.

And Spurs took revenge on Arsenal for the Premier League defeat they recently inflicted by beating the Gunners 2-0 in the Carabao Cup this week. Dele Alli was in belligerent form and looking something like his best. His coach described him as ‘a beast who is doing fantastic things for the club’.

Christian Eriksen to feature as Spurs return to Premier League action this weekend — Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen celebrates after scoring his side opening goal against Burnley

Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen love playing against Everton. Eriksen scored a goal in each of last season’s victories over the Toffees while Kane scored two doubles as the Lillywhites ran out 4-0 winners at Wembley and 0-3 winners at Goodison Park.

But Pochettino has a decision to make at the back. With both Eric Dier and Jan Vertonghen out, that could spell a return for young centre-back Juan Foyth.

Everton’s difficult run

The Toffees have fallen a little off the pace, but take a look at their recent fixtures and you’ll see why. They have taken one point from three away games to Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City! And it could well be that the demands of playing the best three teams in the league have affected their home form, with draws against Watford and Fulham and a narrow 1-0 win over Cardiff.

Defeat to Liverpool was the cruellest cut of all as goalkeeper Jordan Pickford dropped a huge clanger in injury time to gift ‘Pool the points. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a consolation in the defeat to Manchester City last week, but it is the form of Richarlison which is really exciting the Goodison faithful. The 21-year-old Brazilian has scored eight in 15 games and has the pace Everton has been crying out for. Gylfi Sigurdsson is in his best form since his switch to Merseyside and has weighed in with six goals, while the return of Seamus Coleman at the back has steadied the defensive ship too.

Sixth place is the target for the Toffees. They are currently in eighth after the winless run of four games, but still only two points behind Manchester United in sixth.

History

Both these teams have had good times in the Premier League. Former Manchester United manager David Moyes took Everton to fourth place while Spurs were so close to winning the competition in 2016, only to fade at the eleventh hour.

The visitors have had much the better of these meetings, though. Spurs won 24 to Everton’s eight in the Premier League era. The Toffees haven’t beaten Spurs in six years, losing six and drawing five since their last triumph in 2012.

And this season, Spurs are the only team in the Premier League without a draw, having won 13 and lost four in the league. They preserved that record with a last-gasp win over Burnley last week.

Betting Tip

	Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur	Draw 1×2 @ 3.20
	December 24, 00:00 (GMT+8)

With the Saturday Premier League 2018 results all in, these two teams will know where they stand before a ball is kicked on Sunday.

Both will be gunning for a win and, at odds of Everton at 3.10 and Spurs at 2.29, you can take your pick. Tottenham’s away record this season is eight wins and two defeats, while Everton are unbeaten in their last five home matches. I think this will be a great game, but they will ultimately cancel each other out.