Everton host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday as the Toffees look to continue their unbeaten record at their new stadium.
David Moyes' side are hoping to bounce back after a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City last time out, the first game they've been forced to deal with new star man Jack Grealish being unavailable. Spurs endured a 0-0 draw away at Monaco in the Champions League during the week, with their previous Premier League game ending in a 2-1 victory to Aston Villa.
GIVEMESPORT has taken a look at the team news for both sides and how they could line up on Sunday...
Everton Team News
Everton recently confirmed that English defender Jarrad Branthwaite had suffered a setback with a recent hamstring injury, and he's now undergone surgery, meaning he's set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Nathan Patterson has also recently been unavailable, while Merlin Rohl returned to action against Manchester City last week.
Grealish missed the trip to the Etihad due to being unable to play against his parent club.
Speaking to the media ahead of their game against Tottenham, Moyes said...
"We had him [Branthwaite] back, we had him back in full training. We expected him to be very close for Man City, but it just didn’t feel quite right, so we got it checked and got some work done on it. We won’t put a timescale on it. We’ll give him a chance to heal and take his time. Patto [Patterson] had a plantar fascia tear in his foot, which he picked up in the game against Bradford for the Under-21s. It is probably going to keep him out for a couple of weeks. In that period, he’s had a little bit of an issue with his hernia, so we’re probably going to get it tidied up while he’s out with his plantar fascia.”
Everton Predicted XI:
Everton Predicted XI: Pickford; O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Beto.
Everton Predicted Substitutes: Travers (GK), Aznou (DEF), Coleman (DEF), Rohl (MID), Iroegbunam (MID), McNeil (MID), Alcaraz (MID), Dibling (FWD), Barry (FWD).
Grealish is likely to come straight back into the starting XI for the Toffees, but that could be their only change from the game against Man City. Rohl is pushing for his first start after some impressive cameos, but he might have to watch on from the bench this weekend.
Beto and Thierno Barry is another decision Moyes has to make ahead of the game, but the former is likely to keep his place in the XI.
Tottenham Team News
Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, and Dominic Solanke have been on the treatment table over the last couple of games, and they aren't expected to return for their trip to Merseyside. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are long-term absentees for the capital club, and it could be a while before we see them.
Randal Kolo Muani made more progress with his fitness earlier in the week, coming off the bench against Monaco in the Champions League.
Speaking to the media ahead of Tottenham's clash with Everton, Frank said...
“Yes, Cuti just walked out on the grass running, some of the performance guys, so positive, progressing, no time frame, but I don’t expect it to be a longer one. Destiny is not on the grass yet, but still progressing, so again, not a longer one. With Dominic, it’s positive, he’s taking steps in the right direction every day, was on the grass again today on his own, but has now a sustainable amount of pitch sessions in him on his own, so it’s progressing forward.”
Tottenham Predicted XI
Tottenham Predicted XI: Vicario; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha, Simons; Kudus, Kolo Muani, Odobert.
Tottenham Predicted Substitutes: Kinsky (GK), Byfield (DEF), Sarr (MID), Gray (MID), Bergvall (MID), Tel (FWD), Johnson (FWD), Richarlison (FWD), Scarlett (FWD).
Kolo Muani could make his first start for Spurs as he edges closer to full fitness. Xavi Simons could come back into the starting XI for Lucas Bergvall, while Djed Spence is likely to replace Archie Gray at left-back.