Tottenham v Everton Premiership Preview
Tottenham continue their fight to secure Champions League football with a tricky home game against Everton in the Premiership on Sunday. Spurs struggled to a 2-2 draw in midweek in their Europa League tie against Basle but have been relieved to find out that the injury to star winger Gareth Bale is not as bad as first feared. Manager Andre Villas-Boas is hopeful that Bale will be fit to play against Manchester City on April 21st but will definitely not be playing on Sunday.
With Bale having scored 22 goals for Tottenham this season, his absence is clearly a big concern but the statistics seem to be in favour of the White Hart Lane side. Five of the last six meetings between these two teams have been won by the home team with only one draw. It is true that Everton have won their last three matches but they have all been at Goodison Park. Everton striker Nikica Jelavic could be the danger man as he has scored in both of his league appearances against Spurs. However, his recent form is not encouraging with only one goal in his last 14 Premier League appearances.
Spurs have taken the lead in nineteen of their league matches this season, the best record in the Premiership. Without Bale, they will look to Jan Vertonghen to continue his goalscoring streak after four goals in his last five games. Tottenham have faltered under pressure at this stage of the season before and are in a bitter struggle with London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal for Champions League qualification. Last season they allowed Arsenal to pip them for third spot and then Chelsea dumped them out of the Champions League by winning the trophy in Munich.
Winger Aaron Lennon and defender William Gallas are also set to miss the game after picking up knocks against the Swiss champions. Everton’s only injury concern is striker Kevin Mirallas who scored a brilliant solo goal against Stoke last weekend. Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar are both sidelined through suspensions. Everton Boss David Moyes collected the Manager of the Month award for March and will be desperate to force Everton into the reckoning for a top-four finish. A victory would put them on the heels of their rivals.
Villas-Boas knows that Spurs face a difficult end to the season with clashes against Chelsea and Manchester City, so they can afford no slip-ups on Sunday. In the latest soccer betting odds, Tottenham are 6-5 favourites to take all three points with the draw at 12-5 and Everton 5-2 to stun the Londoners. Emmanuel Adebayor is 6-1 to open the scoring for the home side with Clint Dempsey at 7-1. Nikica Jelavic is 8-1 to continue his fine record against Spurs and score the first goal of the match.
