Everton v Tottenham: Preview

Todays match is going to be between two teams that are moving in different directions. A state of panic has come over Everton as they are now dangerously close to the relegation zone. They will also play their first match without Tim Cahill, who is now officially on Asia Cup duty. Tottenham on the other hand is enjoying a nine game unbeaten run, their best since 1999.

Although we keep losing points, I can't pinpoint what the exact problem is. There is an obvious lack of goals at the striker position, but there seems to be a larger problem. It's hard to pinpoint, but I am convinced that it is not just the striker position.

Injury updates, BBC match facts, and more after the jump.

I usually do not hope for draws (especially at Goodison), but given our current form, I can not seriously hope for three points. Getting one point from this match itself will be a victory for our side.

There are a ton of matchup worries for us, mainly because so many of our players are underperforming. Peter Crouch's height, Gareth Bale's skill and form, and pretty much all of Tottenham's midfield can cause problems for us. Gareth Bale and Leighton Baines have both been in incredible form and we will probably see who outperforms who.

On the injury front, Tottenham are missing Robbie Keane, Cudicini, Huddlestone, Ledley King, Woodgate, and O'Hara. Alan Hutton and William Gallas are doubts. Younes Kaboul and Jermain Defoe are both suspended.

On Everton's side, we will miss Phil Jagielka after he re-injured his thigh and Ross Barkley. Seamus Coleman and Johnny Heitinga are both doubts, but will have late fitness tests to see if they are match fit.

Everton Possible Starting XI: Howard, Neville Distin, Heitinga, Baines, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov, Arteta, Pienaar, Osman, Saha

Tottenham Possible Starting XI: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekkoto, Lennon, Jenas, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Pavlyuchenko

BBC Match Facts:

Head-to-head

• Everton have not won any of their last six home matches against Tottenham since a 3-1 victory in April 2004. This is their longest current run without a home victory against another Premier League club.

• They have met 37 times in the Premier League. Everton have won five, Tottenham 18 and there have been 14 draws.

• Everton manager David Moyes has only ever lost three of 15 league matches against teams managed by Harry Redknapp.

Everton

• Everton have lost 99 Premier League matches at Goodison Park.

• The Toffees have only managed to win two of their last nine home games.

• They have scored an own goal in three successive games, two of them from defender Phil Jagielka.

Tottenham

• The club have not won on any of their last six visits to Merseyside to play either Everton or Liverpool.

• Manager Harry Redknapp has won only one of 27 visits to the city of Liverpool as a manager - his only ever win was Portsmouth's 3-0 success at Everton in August 2008.

• Tottenham have only managed to claim back-to-back away victories twice in the league under Harry Redknapp.