Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton- Match Preview
Tottenham Hotspurs take on Everton at the weekend. Spurs were beaten 4-3 in their last competitive match that was in the Champions League against AC Milan. Although it was a loss, but Spurs would have taken a lot of heart from the performance of Gareth Bale who pretty much scored a hat trick on his own at San Siro. However they would be feeling much more confident against Everton at home then they did at the intimidating San Siro in midweek.
The last time these 2 lined up against each other, it was a match between 16th and the 3rd in the league table. Now it will be the 5th (Tottenham) welcoming the 8th (Everton) in the table. The last game ended in a 2-2 draw; Tottenham were leading away from home by 2 goals to nil but the Toffees came from behind to level the match and shared the points. Jermain Defoe may not have forgotten that match as he missed a penalty in stoppage time and wasted a golden opportunity to win the match.
Spurs and Everton both did not have a bright start to the 2010 season and were lingering in the bottom half of the table during first 4 weeks. However, the last 4 games have seen both teams raise their game and now are in more familiar positions.
Rafael van der Vaart will be making his way back in the team; he was not part of the team in the 4-3 defeat at the hands of AC Milan. The Dutch midfielder was serving his ban for the red card he earned in the last European match against FC Twente.
Harry Redknapp still has a long list of injuries, with his captain Ledley King still missing due to a hamstring problem; Vedran Corluka has still not recovered from a troublesome groin. Michael Dawson is another defender who is out with striker Jermain Defoe also not available due to a ligament injury. Younes Kaboul and Jamie O’Hara though may be back after recovering from hamstring and back injuries respectively.
David Moyes, the Everton manager also has his share of problems. Leon Osman is out and one of his most important players Mikel Arteta will also be facing a late fitness test.
Osman got himself injured last week in the Merseyside derby, when Everton beat Liverpool 2-0, but Osman would not be back for 6 weeks.
Other notable absences from Everton lineup will be that of Marouane Fellaini who is out with a hamstring problem, Jack Rodwell is nursing an ankle injury and Ross Barkley is out for long due to a broken leg. The South African Steven Pienaar has encountered a groin problem and former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has problems with his calf.
Harry Redknapp is generally an attack minded manager and big evidence of that was the way he lined up his team against AC Milan. Normally visiting teams at San Siro or anywhere else in Europe go in with a 4-5-1 formation, but Redknapp started with 4-4-2; it did backfire and after the Everton keeper was sent off they had to make changes. Nevertheless, it still underlines the fact that Tottenham do not believe in playing for a draw.
Everton on the other hand also have the same mentality which was on show against city rivals Liverpool. David Moyes does have his hands tied with some major injuries but rest assured he will put on an attacking lineup. Tim Cahill will have to be at the centre of Everton plans once again, and if Arteta fails to be fit in time the Aussie will be shouldering more responsibilities in attacking midfield.
The game is too close to call, and looking at both teams current form one thing is for sure that there will be a goal-fest at White Hart Lane.
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