Chris Sutton has shared his predictions ahead of Everton’s clash with Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon (23 December).
In pursuit of a fifth consecutive Premier League win, Everton head to North London to face Ange Postecoglou’s resurgent Tottenham side, which has been revitalized following a recent spell of poor form.
Sean Dyche’s men go into the game on the back of a disappointing EFL Cup quarter-final exit to Fulham via a penalty shootout (19 December), and Sutton, in his predictions for BBC Sport (20 December), anticipates Tottenham to be too formidable for the Merseyside club. He does, however, laud the “incredible” progress Dyche has made at Goodison Park.
Sutton commented: “This is shaping up to be an outstanding game, and it’s extremely hard to predict. Sean Dyche has achieved remarkable success at Everton, and based on what we’ve witnessed thus far, if you were to select a manager of the season, he would have to be in contention after what he has had to contend with. This isn’t the same Dyche we saw at Burnley, where he was focused on maintaining their Premier League status and was at times quite direct. I genuinely believe his Everton side has found a good balance in their approach to possessing and distributing the ball.
“Then there’s Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, who have been the most captivating team in the top flight. Spurs can be daring at times and will be without Yves Bissouma after his red card against Forest. Consequently, it won’t be a straightforward match, and I do believe Everton will find the net… but my prediction is for Ange to emerge victorious.”
High Stakes
Everton’s Premier League form has been exemplary with four consecutive victories, including clean sheets, but their disappointment in exiting the EFL Cup quarter-finals against Fulham was palpable.
The opportunity was there for the Toffees, who largely dominated the game but failed to display the clinical finishing that has been evident in the Premier League, ultimately leading to their defeat in the penalty shootout.
Dyche and his team will undoubtedly be eager to address these shortcomings heading into Saturday’s encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Nonetheless, they will be meeting a formidable, in-form opponent.
Postecoglou’s Tottenham side presents a formidable challenge given the squad’s remarkable adaptability and fluidity both in and out of possession, setting the stage for what could be Dyche’s most demanding test in recent weeks.
While Everton seeks to rectify their midweek disappointment, approaching this game with precision and a keen attention to detail is imperative, as it could prove to be a perilous encounter following their setback in the EFL Cup. They must swiftly regroup and refocus for the challenge ahead.
