Tottenham Hotspur’s season goes from bad to worse. An embarrassing and woeful defeat last time out to Sheffield United has all but ended Spurs’ hopes of Champions League football next season. Carlo Ancelotti brings his Everton side to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night as both look to avoid mid-table obscurity.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Season Heading for Mid-Table Mediocrity
Two Contrasting Teams
Martin Jol, Harry Redknapp and Mauricio Pochettino have all done their bit to take Tottenham from mid-table obscurity to top-six glory. Pochettino made qualifying for the top four a given. Yet one year on from a first Champions League final, Spurs are travelling backward at an alarming rate.
Carlo Ancelotti is starting his own journey with Everton, as is Jose Mourinho with Spurs. Yet Everton look like they are building for the future. Tottenham are in danger of heading into the past and this match will be fascinating to see where both clubs are heading.
Everton Missing Key Players
Tottenham’s injury problems have been well-documented this season, but it is Everton who are missing the likes of Theo Walcott and Fabian Delph for the trip to North London.
Cenk Tosun is also ruled out for the Toffees, while Spurs’ only injury concern is Dele Alli.
Tottenham’s Stars Must Stand Up and be Counted
There has been much talk about Jose Mourinho and whether his players want to play for him. The performance against Sheffield United brought that question right to the fore.
Spurs have a talented squad yet they look fatigued, lacking in guile and identity. Son Heung-Min, Lucas Moura, Ben Davies and several others have been poor since the restart. These are players who many clubs would love to have in their squads. On their performances this season, they all look like players struggling with confidence and form. Whether that is down to the manager, only the manager himself and the players can say.
These are class players and when Everton arrive, they simply must stand up and be counted.
Prediction
Tottenham are back on home turf but with no fans, home and away games are no excuse for poor performances. Everton will set up similar to Sheffield United against Tottenham Hotspur. Pressing high with lots of energy. If Tottenham play the way they did against the Blades, they will be beaten once more.
Will Jose Mourinho pick a different team? He surely cannot stick with the back four from last time out. Toby Alderweireld at least must come back into the back four to replace either Eric Dier or Davinson Sánchez.
Everton will be relishing this game. Tottenham need to start showing heart.
Score prediction – Tottenham Hotspur 1 Everton 3
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