Huge clash at Goodison
Under-fire manager Jose Mourinho takes his side to Goodison Park on Friday night to take on Everton in a must-win Premier League game for both sides.
Everton form
Injury-ridden Everton drew 0-0 at Brighton on Monday night in a drab encounter, where they never looked capable of winning the game. Top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin was out injured, while Allan, Andre Gomes and Abdoulaye Doucoure were also absent.
The Toffees are eighth in the league and have a game in hand on the teams above them, but their European hopes are fading as the weeks go by. They conceded at the death to draw 1-1 against Crystal Palace in their last home game, a match they should have killed off in the first half as chances were squandered.
Everton are now winless in their last four league games and have an appalling home record – winning just five of 15 home matches this season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have won only once in their past eight home league games. Goodison has been a fortress in past seasons but the empty stands have hindered the hosts this season.
Tottenham form
Spurs are not in a good situation at the moment. The optimism at the beginning of the season seems like a long time ago with the mood at the club now grim. Mourinho seems tense and surly, while Harry Kane’s future is a daily conversation.
Tottenham are a point above Everton in seventh, and once again fell away when leading last weekend against Man United. They took the lead in the first half but were blown away in the second half by the intensity and quality of Manchester United.
The visitors have now thrown away 18 points from winning positions this season. The Lilywhites are six points off the top four with seven games to go and need to regain some momentum with a win on Friday night.
Head-to-head
The match is the reverse fixture of the opening day match which Everton won 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. The two sides met in an FA Cup quarter final with Everton also winning 5-4 in an enthralling match that went to extra time.
Spurs are unbeaten in their last seven away league games against Everton. The Toffees haven’t done the league double over Tottenham since the 1985/86 season.
Featured image: Jose Mourinho, manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks dejected as he is interviewed by media following the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
