Date - Sunday 9th February Venue - White Hart Lane Kick-Off - 1.30pm Referee - Mark Clattenburg A key battle in the fight for a Champions League place, 5th place Everton travel to sixth-placed Tottenham with both teams keen to keep the pressure on their closest rivals.
Team News
Tottenham are set to be boosted by the return of England winger Andros Townsend and Belgian Mousa Dembele ahead of Sky's live Sunday lunchtime game against Everton. Townsend has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury against West Ham in December, but it is likely that manager Tim Sherwood will only introduce him from the bench. Sunday's game is likely to come too soon for Erik Lamela, while Sandro and Vlad Chicheres are also expected to miss out through injury. Roberto Martinez's men travel to London hoping to be able to call on the services of Seamus Coleman and Gerard Deulofeu. Coleman was not risked in the home victory over Villa last time out but The Toffees will be delighted to have him back for this crucial clash. Deulofeu, like Townsend, is hoping to return from a hamstring injury sustained in December and, like Townsend, is not likely to be risked in the starting line up, but his return to the squad will provide Martinez with pace and prowess from the bench should it be required. Everton have struggled with injuries recently and will again be without Romelu Lukaku, who is still a few weeks away from a return from the ankle injury he sustained in the derby defeat at Anfield, while deadline day signing Lacina Traore is unlikely to be risked as he awaits his debut whilst recovering from injury.
We should have a clearer indication of whether these sides are serious contenders for a top-four finish after they have pitted their wits against each other this Sunday. Neutrals will hope for more action than the reverse fixture at Goodison Park earlier in the season, when a 0-0 draw was played out, which did nothing for either side's European aspirations. Both teams have suffered mini setbacks in recent weeks, with Spurs pummelled by the Pellegrini powerhouse, while Everton were humbled by their Merseyside neighbours in emphatic fashion. Everton's defeat at the hands of Liverpool was only their third in the league this season, yet although their game is a more daring and expansive one than that of the Moyes era, their record at this stage last season was not too dissimilar a side difficult to beat, but one that also registers too many draws. Had some of last seasons draws been turned into wins, European football would surely have been secured. This may have been to the detriment of this season's league campaign something Swansea's ex-boss Michael Laudrup may point to as a reason for their disappointing league form, with their squad pushed to the limit. Europa League football has not been as testing on the Spurs squad with their passage to the knockout phases negotiated with relative ease and the detriment to their league campaign minimised with the help of a larger pool of players, they're squad is markedly fresher than their opponents'. European football could yet prove decisive in the chase for a prize amongst next seasons European elite, with Spurs and Man Utd not only trailing Everton and Liverpool on points, but also having one eye on their European adventures. It is therefore a surprise that Tim Sherwood bucked the Levy trend of being the Transfer Deadline Day party animals, deciding instead to stay calm while others threw money at the latest potential season saver. With Jermaine Defoe due to head to Toronto next month, Sherwood will be left with Adebayor, Soldado and the inexperienced Harry Kane as his only striking options, which could prove pivotal. Everton have not had the distraction of Europe this season and although they would love the Europa League to be that distraction next season, it is the golden goose of Champions League football that they strive for. Many mocked and sniggered when Martinez tentatively mentioned Champions League qualification in his first press conference, but football's Mr Nice Guy has instilled his confident swagger in addition to his football beliefs, providing his Everton side with a platform to push their rivals every inch of the way in the race for the coveted 4th spot. Should 4th be secured, Everton fans know only too well that this does not guarantee Champions League football. The one time they gate crashed the top four, they were pitted against Villareal and having lost their home leg, a controversial Pierluigi Collina decision to disallow an Everton goal proved to be the turning point in the second leg and ended their Champions League dream. At this stage of the season, both Tottenham and Everton may dare to dream and would bite your hand off for a Champions League qualifier next season, even with the potential heartbreak. A Europa League spot however, could ultimately be deemed much less appealing. Prediction - 1-1
I am an Evertonian originating from Yorkshire and living in Bedfordshire. I have always had an obsession with football and a passion for writing and I am keen to get started in the world of football journalism. I hope that my writing entertains you all and leaves you thirsty for more!
