Premier League: Friday Form Needs to be Found in Race for Europe

Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur

Friday night in the Premier League and a clash of two teams who appear to be running out of steam at exactly the wrong time.

In fact, it’s fast approaching last-chance saloon if one of them is going to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

However, while a place in next season’s Europa League is now far more likely, a top four finish is still possible.

That means the need for both sides to claim all three points which will keep alive their outside hopes could help create Premier League highlights at Goodison Park.

 

Talking Points

It is a meeting between two world class managers in Everton’s Carlo Ancelotti and Spurs’ Jose Mourinho whose rolls of honour put pretty every other top flight boss in the shade.

 

While Mourinho has seen his side lose a number of leads over the past month to cost them precious top flight points, he does at least have a near enough fully strength squad at his disposal.

If only the home side had no such concerns on top of successive draws against lowly Crystal Palace and Brighton which have hindered the Toffees’ hopes of moving into the top four.

In fairness, Everton do have legitimate reasons with a strong injury list which was evident on the south coast on Monday night against opponents they put four past earlier in the campaign.

Indeed, they were on the rack for considerable periods, dominated by a Brighton side that deserved to win and Ancelotti must now discover some attacking thrust from somewhere if their season is not to fizzle out.

To highlight their issues, Everton fielded six specialist defenders in that match and Alex Iwobi was the only first-team player on a bench they could not fill, bringing two replacement goalkeepers and still arriving a player short.

Their main miss was frontman Dominic Calvert-Lewin who sustained an adductor injury in training and joined André Gomes among their absentees.

Jordan Pickford, Allan and Andre Gomes have also suffered setbacks of late, forcing them to sit out the stalemate, but the Merseysiders are hoping to have that quartet back for Friday.

Ancelotti may have criticised Calvert-Lewin for a profligate display against Palace last week but a player who has enjoyed the most productive season of his career and has 19 goals at club level so far is naturally missed.

Having rested James Rodríguez for a month to enable him to recover from a persistent calf problem, the influential playmaker should be fresh for the run-in which is also a big boost.

It is remarkable that Everton remain in contention for Europe, and a reflection of their fine away form, given they have won five points from a possible 24 at Goodison Park this year.

One more home defeat, however, will likely be one too many.

Likewise, Spurs cannot afford another defeat. What’s the betting on a draw then!

 

History

These two Premier League mainstays have faced each other on 177 occasions in all competitions, with ​Tottenham coming out on top with 68 wins to Everton’s 57 triumphs. There have also been 58 draws.

Everton have struggled in this fixture in recent years, mind, and have not beaten Spurs at home in eight years.

Their last victory was a 2-1 win in December 2012, thanks to last-gasp goals.

Steven Pienaar equalised in the final minute of normal time before Nikica Jelavic netted the winner in added time at the end of the game.

However, in their favour, the Toffees have already beaten them twice this season.

On the opening day of the campaign Ancelotti’s aces ousted unadventurous Spurs and they then turned on the style to win an epic FA Cup tie in February, a  nine-goal thriller settled after extra-time.

 

Betting Tip

	Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur	1X2 Draw @ 3.25
	April 17. 03:00 (GMT+8)

Spurs are favourites with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds which may surprise you given that Everton can climb above them in the table if they win their game in hand and that the Toffees have already beaten them twice this term.

On saying that, the law of averages suggests that makes it unlikely they will beat them for a third time on the bounce.

Perhaps it’s because Spurs have a fine recent record at Goodison Park.

The 1X2 odds back Everton @ 3.10 and Spurs @ 2.29. With Asian Handicap betting, you can get prices of +0.25 Everton @ 1.97 and Spurs -0.25 @ 2.31.

For a repeat of last season’s 1-1 draw, correct score will pay out @ 5.80.

If we are you anticipate another goal fest, then why don’t you plump for total goal 4-6 @ 3.65 or a more conservative over 2.50 goal @ 2.00.

I am going to opt for a result which will do little to help either team.

A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
= €20 (Highly confident)	= €10 (CONFIDENT)	= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

 

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