Rob Daly, official club commentator, presenter and pundit
What are Everton playing for?
A run of six without a win has almost certainly ended Everton’s hopes of qualifying for European football for the first time in eight years. After a 3-0 win over Chelsea before the March international break, a third victory in four, Everton were seventh. However, since then, they’ve conceded late winners to West Ham and Liverpool and squandered leads vs Manchester City (3-3), Crystal Palace (2-2) and Sunderland (1-3) to drop points. Twelfth at kick-off - it isn’t mathematically impossible they finish top eight but, regardless, they’re set for a best league finish since 2020/21.
England's 'mini Valverde'
One stand out player this season has been industrious midfielder James Garner. “He's our mini Valverde,” said England Head Coach Thomas Tuchel of the midfielder following an impressive Three Lions debut in March. “He has this natural confidence and he's just very physical. He won a lot of balls." In fact, no Premier League player has made more tackles than Garner’s 116 this season - with Joao Gomes (107) and Spurs’ own Joao Palhinha (106) just behind. “I think he’s probably a No.8 but really I think there might be a future for Jimmy to be a good No.6 as well,” explained David Moyes recently. “He can do both those jobs... and he’s had to fill in at full-back, when we’ve had suspensions and injuries.”
Porro vs Ndiaye?
A compelling head-to-head battle could come down the Everton left, should Iliman Ndiaye start there again. The Senegal international has six goals and three assists and, for much of the season, thrilled with his skill and running on the wing. Despite a drop in Ndiaye's form of late, it’s crucial that Pedro Porro, one of Spurs’ better performers at Chelsea in midweek, shuts him down. Ndiaye was a major threat against Spurs earlier in the season playing down the right, constantly running at Djed Spence, and he would have scored but for some Guglielmo Vicario brilliance.
Richarlison to the rescue
After his strike on Tuesday, Richarlison is now on 12 goals as Spurs’ top scorer. He has relegation fight experience during his time at Everton – scoring six goals in the final 10 games of the 2021/22 season to keep them up. An excellent record against his former club is worthy of note too - a header to supply goalscorer Pape Matar Sarr in October’s 3-0 win on Merseyside took him to five goal involvements in five games against Everton (four goals, one assist). A reminder too that David Moyes’ side struggled from Spurs’ quality on corners with Micky van de Ven scoring two headers in the first half at the Hill Dickinson.
Maddison - difference maker
In both appearances since returning from that ACL injury, James Maddison looked the most proactive player on the pitch. Against Chelsea, brought on in the 69th minute, he constantly dropped to get on the ball, before working give-and-go’s with team-mates to drive up field. “I felt good, yes. I've obviously been out for a long time, so I don't feel 100 per cent sharp and fit,” he told us after the Chelsea defeat, having also nearly scored for 2-2. “That's why it's disappointing we didn't get anything out of the game, because I felt like we were pushing and I felt involved in that but, like I said, just that lack of quality in the front third just let us down on a few moments in a game where we probably should have got something, I think.” How many minutes can he give Roberto De Zerbi today?