Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to guarantee their place in next season’s Premier League as they host Everton on Sunday at 4pm.
Spurs head into the game in strong form, having lost just one of their previous five Premier League matches. Roberto De Zerbi’s side should only need a point to ensure their survival, given their superior goal difference over West Ham United.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Everton
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Tel, Gallagher, Kolo Muani; Richarlison.
Everton at home could be an ideal fixture for a must-win game for Tottenham. The Toffees have failed to win in their previous six, and with European football basically off the cards, they have little to play for.
Spurs will be treating this one as a must-win, although a draw should be enough. De Zerbi won’t be taking any chances, and given their recent form, they’ll be going all out for three points.
Despite their struggles, Everton can’t be taken for granted. Their away performances have been among the best in the league, while David Moyes will take satisfaction from helping his former club West Ham stay up.
Tottenham team news vs Everton
Tottenham’s injury troubles continue, and they’ve had little respite throughout the whole campaign. Both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor felt the brunt of it, but De Zerbi hasn’t had an easy ride either.
Xavi Simons, Cristian Romero, Wilson Odobert, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, and Ben Davies will all be unavailable due to long-term injuries. Dominic Solanke could return to action, but a start for him feels unlikely.
James Maddison has been slowly building up his fitness in recent weeks, but after a long-term ACL injury, another substitute appearance could be on the cards.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see an unchanged XI from De Zerbi. The Tottenham boss might not have any players returning from injury, and he’s named the same side in his last three matches.
It was recently reported that goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky will undergo surgery once the season has ended. And despite Guglielmo Vicario returning to action, Kinsky should keep his place between the sticks.
Even if Solanke is fit enough to start, De Zerbi is likely to name Richarlison in the starting XI. The former Everton man has made the striker position his own in recent weeks, and he’s the ideal player to have in Tottenham’s current situation.
Richarlison the relegation battle master
Brazilian striker Richarlison is no stranger to a relegation battle. When plying his trade for this weekend’s opponents Everton, Richarlison stepped up when it mattered.
Spurs have found converting chances a problem this season, but when given the opportunity, Richarlison has contributed. The 29-year-old has scored 11 Premier League goals from 19 starts, while also producing four assists.
Richarlison has found the back of the net twice in the previous three games, and he’ll be imperative if Tottenham are going to stay in the Premier League. He’s been there and done it in this situation, helping keep Everton in the league. And he’ll be hoping to do the same again this weekend.
When battling to avoid relegation, sometimes you simply need players who are going to give their all. Richarlison epitomises that type of player, and he could be the key for Spurs this weekend.