da lvbet： It looks set to be yet another stellar Premier League weekend in what has already been an incredibly gripping season and the pick of the fixtures is Everton’s visit to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
da winzada777： Both clubs are considered the Premier League’s more traditional contenders for the Europa League spots but they’re a little off the pace at 17 points apiece after twelve games, with the Toffees in ninth and the Lilywhites in tenth.
Interestingly, Spurs are undefeated in their last six home matches against the Merseysiders, but Roberto Martinez’ boys haven’t lost in their last five league outings.
Thus, it has all the makings of a classic Premier League clash, but matches of such quality and velocity are often decided by who can dominate the individual battles.
With that in mind, here’s a list of FIVE that will determine the outcome on Sunday afternoon.
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NACER CHADLI VS SEAMUS COLEMAN
Left winger Nacer Chadli has been scoring for fun this season – in fact he’s Tottenham’s most potent entity going forward by quite some way with six goals in the Premier League, including this strike against Stoke City:
Mauricio Pochettino will want the Belgium international’s superfluous run to continue, but Chadli’s up against a rather unusual proposition in Everton right-back Seamus Coleman.
The full-backs are what make the Toffees tick, the focal points of the starting Xi. As shown below, the Irishman and left-back Leighton Baines are prolific contributors going forward:
The challenge for Chadli will be impacting the scoreline whilst ensuring he doesn’t leave Coleman with a free run down that left-hand channel. The 26 year-old makes late runs into the box – the source of his two goals this term – but can hit them from long-range too, as he did to great effect last season:
//www.youtube.com/embed/6URMIvfAyss?rel=0
In turn however, Coleman will undoubtedly leave his centre-backs exposed at times, giving Chadli the opportunity to hit on the break.
With the Spurs star in top form and the Everton defender so integral to his side’s game-plan, this could well be the key battle that eventually decides the result on Sunday.
It remains to be seen if Chadli will be fit at the weekend however – he’s missed Spurs’ last three fixtures in all competitions with a knee injury but could return.
JAN VERTONGHEN VS ROMELU LUKAKU
Performances at the heart of Tottenham’s defence have ranged from unconvincing to cowardly this season but the Lilywhites’ centre-backs will have to be on top form on Sunday against Everton’s Romelu Lukaku.
He may be yet to rekindle the form from last term since moving to Goodison permanently during the summer, but the Belgium international’s five goals in twelve Premier League outings is certainly nothing to be sniffed at.
He also found the net in rather confident fashion against Wolfsburg in the Europa League yesterday evening:
When combined with his consistent supply of goals, the speed, strength and power of 21 year-old’s 6 foot 3 frame makes him a battering ram of netting prowess.
Tottenham’s defenders will have to match that physicality – especially Jan Vertonghen, who owes the Lilywhites a convincing performance.
He measures in an inch shorter than countryman Lukaku however, so the assistance of 6 foot 5 centre-back partner Federico Fazio – despite the mixed start to his White Hart Lane career – could prove vital.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN VS GARETH BARRY
His form may be turbulent from game to game with seemingly little logic as to why, but Christian Eriksen, in my opinion, is by far and away Tottenham’s most important player.
Not only is the Danish international Tottenham’s second top-scorer in the Premier League with four goals, including this stoppage-time winner against Hull City last weekend:
He’s also their most prolific creator (represented as key passes):
And their third-most effective dribbler:
Indeed, the vast majority of Spurs’ forward play passes through their No.10, so the task of stopping him will likely go to Everton enforcer Gareth Barry.
With 540 Premier League outings under his belt, the former England international’s quality, experience and consistency is undoubted.
He hobbled off injured against Sunderland earlier this month however and will have to face a late fitness test on Sunday.
With James McCarthy and Darron Gibson also sidelined, should Barry fail his examination, Mo Besic will likely be drafted in to partner Leon Osman in holding midfield.
ETIENNE CAPOUE VS ROSS BARKLEY
England international Ross Barkley may be just 20 years of age, but Everton look like a completely different side with him in the starting Xi.
The attacking midfielder is on the mend from injury and hasn’t quite rekindled the form of last season. He is however, still causing Premier League defences major problems with his dribbling ability, currently boasting the most proficient return on the Goodison roster:
Combined with his stocky frame, creativity, ball retention and famed netting prowess – take these seven goals from last season, for example:
//www.youtube.com/embed/43uGzW05qyo?rel=0
Barkley has the potential to be a thorn in Tottenham’s side on Sunday.
It remains to be seen if he’ll start centrally against Spurs or in a wider role, but the Three Lions prodigy will constantly look to drift inside, putting him directly against Lilywhites enforcer Etienne Capoue.
The Frenchman still plays within himself somewhat and is yet to bring his Toulouse form to White Hart Lane. He’s been much better this season however in comparison to the last, as shown below, and his impressive physicality could keep Barkley at bay:
Capoue’s also Spurs’ water-carrier in the middle of the park, so he’ll have to make sure the Everton attacker doesn’t catch him in possession:
KEVIN MIRALLAS VS TOTTENHAM’S FULL-BACKS
Kevin Mirallas has slowly built up his fitness over the last few weeks following a lengthy sideline bout and put in a man of the Match display against Wolfsburg yesterday evening, grabbing an assist and this goal to secure the Toffees a 2-0 win:
With the likes of Steven Pienaar and Steven Naismith facing late fitness tests, don’t be surprised if the Belgium international is called upon again to face the Lilywhites.
The 27 year-old’s potency going forward certainly isn’t in doubt, as shown below:
He can feature on either flank and often switches between throughout the course of 90 minutes, so both of Tottenham’s full-backs will have to be prepared for Mirallas’ prolific pace and creativity.
Unfortunately, neither No.2 nor No.3 have been particularly positive positions for Spurs this season and injuries to Danny Rose and Kyle Walker further complicate the situation.
That will likely see Eric Dier and Ben Davies take right-back and left-back respectively, but neither have particularly excelled since moving to White Hart Lane in the summer:
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