Royal Blue Mersey - Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League Matchday 18It's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2018-12-24T12:53:49+00:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/179191722018-12-24T12:53:49+00:002018-12-24T12:53:49+00:00Top six remains a distant dream for spineless, pathetic Everton
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XudCJfOHVkvdO81LEvhEZ1BmwzY=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62733164/1074672266.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Spurs totally outclassed Everton on Sunday, easily beating them 6-2 | Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Sunday’s Spurs debacle was a harsh reality check. Everton remain miles from the Premier League elite</p> <p id="RKy89v">As countless <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>ians left Goodison Park prematurely yesterday, numbed almost as much as those in blue on the pitch, a familiar, inescapable feeling of dread permeated throughout the ground.</p>
<p id="OJee7C">In a season where Everton have, at times, shown great promise and improvement under their new boss Marco Silva, the 6-2 drubbing at home to <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> on Sunday highlighted the chasm that remains between where the Blues currently are and where they want to be. So far at least, it has been another bleak midwinter for Everton.</p>
<p id="V5NTxj">It had all started so positively; Spurs may have had the better chances in the opening exchanges, but Everton looked more than capable of holding their own against comfortably one of the best sides in England.</p>
<p id="yZAbLP"><span>Theo Walcott</span>’s opener on 21 minutes was just reward for the hosts’ start, but both the nature and speed of Everton’s subsequent unravelling made for painful viewing.</p>
<p id="RLOq3C">Within the following six minutes, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a goal harshly ruled out for the slightest of pushes on centre-back Davinson Sánchez, before Son Heung-min capitalised on a calamitous mix-up between <span>Jordan Pickford</span> and Kurt Zouma to equalise. A game where the Toffees could easily have been enjoying breathing space was suddenly back on level terms.</p>
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tzWAnnjyLEgc3XISUIKHva3RVLs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13647270/1074676822.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Son took advantage of a dreadful error by Pickford and Zouma to equalise</figcaption>
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<p id="UQCvPl">From then on, Everton caved. There was no response from Silva’s men, still dumbstruck by the injustice of Calvert-Lewin’s disallowed header and the sheer incompetence which led to Spurs’ leveller.</p>
<p id="WNKoUn">As the visitors went on to steamroll Everton, it only served to emphasise the fragility of the squad at Silva’s disposal. Take only one component out of it - such as the instrumental midfielder Idrissa Gueye, absent through injury on Sunday - and the Blues collapse like a Jenga block that has had a piece taken out of it.</p>
<p id="OXEZ94">In reality, a sense of dread had emanated from the moment Silva’s teamsheet surfaced. In trying to counteract an imposing, electrifying Spurs midfield, with André Gomes and Tom Davies, and later the one-paced <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span>, Everton were bypassed time and again in the centre of the park. Without Gueye’s steel, the Blues looked a soft touch in that department.</p>
<p id="BRcJON">It was made all the more galling by the sight of the towering Moussa Sissoko, derided by many for years, dicate the play almost single-handedly in midfield. Many Evertonians baulked when <span>Ronald Koeman</span> attempted to sign him in the summer of 2016, yet he looked yesterday the sort of player Silva is crying out for.</p>
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2kfjGyVsDpjAez2qApHPxpPJsa0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13648218/1074667652.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Sissoko was outstanding for Spurs on Sunday</figcaption>
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<p id="GyIlFx">Having often waited to be beaten by the ‘top six’ under Koeman and <span>Sam Allardyce</span> last year, Silva has already made it clear in trips to <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>, <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>, <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> and both Manchester clubs this season that his Everton will play to win, or at least to attack. </p>
<p id="rFg6vL">On Sunday, though, the Blues’ balance was patently lop-sided; whether that was because the manager felt that, as the home side, it is his team’s duty to force the issue, only Silva will know, but it proved incredibly naive to try and fight fire with fire against such a potent outfit. With their respective squads, Everton are nowhere near good enough to succeed against Spurs with such cavalier tactics.</p>
<p id="Hqmxaz">Take nothing away from Tottenham; they fully merited such an emphatic victory and outplayed the hosts for almost the entirety of the match. With a settled defence, a powerful midfield and a potent strike force, they are everything Everton fans should want their side to be.</p>
<p id="fioFyU">With every Spurs goal, the shell-shocked Toffees seemed to only retreat further. <span>Seamus Coleman</span> and Zouma, both mercilessly bullied by Son and <span>Harry Kane</span> all afternoon, were particularly guilty of backwards passes to goalkeeper Pickford, who likewise is enduring a sticky spell, and was fortunate to escape unpunished after a questionable challenge on Dele Alli yesterday.</p>
<p id="fscYj3">The collective groans around Goodison Park told its own story; at times, it bore all the hallmarks of an Everton performance in the final days of Roberto Martínez, while the dramatic nature of the Blues’ collapse felt a carbon copy of Koeman’s final game in charge, the 5-2 home defeat to Arsenal, which the Toffees also took the lead in.</p>
<p id="1meI6N">Pickford’s place will not be under threat; he remains an excellent goalkeeper and has rarely let the Blues down in his 18 months at the club. </p>
<p id="PpkDoP">But with his costly decision to get involved in the play for Son’s goal, just as with his needless action to keep an aimless ball in play at Anfield, it is clear that England’s number one is going through his worst spell yet.</p>
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VivsSZ-vHJl2v93ThSag-Tdr4Lw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13647242/1074684112.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>It has been a month to forget for Pickford</figcaption>
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<p id="SmAD3H">There is an obvious self-confidence about Pickford, which no Evertonian would want him to rid himself of, but when that manifests itself in a desire to involve himself in the play when he is not needed, it is costing Everton, just as it did for Son’s first goal on Sunday and in the derby. </p>
<p id="tOijKB">It is one of few goalkeeping shortcomings of Pickford’s, but he must learn to strike a better balance between self-belief and over-enthusiasm to improve further.</p>
<p id="t8vQaC">In the case of Coleman and Zouma, though, the picture looks murkier. Coleman is enduring his worst season as an Everton player and, now 30, looks to be on a downward trajectory as a footballer. Teams are now doubling up on him in the knowledge that he is one of the Blues’ easier targets, just as Spurs did to such devastating effect on Sunday.</p>
<p id="g51w6I">He is struggling horribly, and with 21-year-old Jonjoe Kenny the right-back’s only real competition, Silva and director of football Marcel Brands must at least attempt to recruit reinforcements in this area in January, to spark the Irishman into life if nothing else.</p>
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BRA9mYqG6n3hV8Z49BMLYiOIu_s=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13648243/1074685538.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Coleman is having a horrendous season, but there are few viable alternatives for his position</figcaption>
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<p id="8Jkmkq">Zouma was deservedly recalled at Yerry Mina’s expense for the Spurs game, with Mina delivering easily his worst performance in his embryonic career in the previous match, a 3-1 defeat at Man City. </p>
<p id="jzQNcg">Yet when the Frenchman then delivers his own worst showing in a royal blue shirt, it leaves Silva with a headache ahead of the Boxing Day trip to <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a>. What once looked a nice problem for the manager to have is slowly turning into a nightmare, and despite the Clarets being embroiled in a relegation battle, their physicality will make for a tough afternoon for whoever lines up in central defence for the Toffees on Wednesday.</p>
<p id="IKUXl2">The first half of Silva’s maiden season at Goodison concludes at Turf Moor, and despite Everton being, remarkably, one point worse off than at this stage under Koeman and Allardyce last year, the level of improvement is immeasurable.</p>
<p id="iGq5Ez">The Blues are undeniably in a far better place this Christmas than 12 months ago, and nobody who has watched them regularly under Silva would have you believe that the Spurs capitulation was representative of their campaign so far.</p>
<p id="5RtRxT">But the most recent bruising low of 2018/19 serves as a wake-up call of the enormity of the job the Portuguese manager has taken on. </p>
<p id="vDuEtn">The Blues still look traumatised by <span>Divock Origi</span>’s last-gasp winner which deprived Everton of a deserved point at league leaders Liverpool three weeks ago. Despite such a harrowing setback, the absence of any sort of reaction since then has been deeply alarming, and it is Silva’s job to rectify that in the upcoming trips to Burnley and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/football-league-championship/teams/brighton-hove-albion">Brighton & Hove Albion</a>.</p>
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<img alt="Liverpool FC v Everton FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Fpj_3Deyj01kOZ_5L8hpma1kOIg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13597373/1076293316.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Everton still have not recovered from Origi’s late derby winner on December 2</figcaption>
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<p id="MuwkeZ">This is not uncharted territory for Silva, either; his Hull side shipped seven against Spurs in May 2017, and Watford were beaten 6-0 by <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> during his tenure, with both hammerings also coming at home.</p>
<p id="PwLltT">The Hornets followed up that humiliation by taking seven points from their next three games. A similar reaction from Everton is now a necessity to prevent a campaign that looked so bright only a month ago from further derailing.</p>
<p id="p1GV1N">In a week dominated by tedious squabbles about the capacity of Everton’s new stadium, this was a timely reminder that what matters on the pitch is infinitely more important, and no side has exposed the size of the disparity between the top six and the Blues more brutally than Spurs on Sunday.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/24/18154327/top-six-distant-dream-spineless-pathetic-everton-tottenham-recap-marco-silva-coleman-pickfordmatthew.chandler2018-12-24T08:00:01+00:002018-12-24T08:00:01+00:00Everton 2 Tottenham 6 : Spurs dismantle Toffees at Goodison Park
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q1v0n5LY2A8eKWObG-VmNdzjZYY=/0x0:4252x2835/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62732306/1074676820.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Three Thoughts from yesterday’s humiliation</p> <h1 id="WaEzIm">Tottenham dominate off the rebound</h1>
<p id="o6qSXo">For all of <span>Jordan Pickford</span>’s mistakes in this match, he certainly did a decent job of stopping the initial shots that came his way. One of the many areas where the defense failed him was in controlling <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>’s chances off rebounds. Several of <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s conceded goals in this match came from poor clearances and an inability to control saved shots. </p>
<p id="u78SFn">The Toffees seemed slow to getting to the ball despite an 8-day break between games, against a Spurs side that was playing their third game in a week but looked sharper than their hosts. </p>
<p id="n3pHgg">Maybe against a lesser team some of those goals would have sailed wide. But if Everton truly want to compete against these top six teams, then they have to be much more precise. The goals that Spurs scored in the run of play were not overly surprising. They have a talented and dangerous attack and Everton were never going to shut them out. But when your goalkeeper is making saves or defenders are blocking shots then those efforts need to be controlled and cleared well out of harm’s way. </p>
<aside id="CYi3ea"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton 2-6 Tottenham: Instant Reaction | Shambles All Around","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18154021/everton-2-6-tottenham-instant-reaction-match-recap-utter-shambles-goals-highlights"},{"title":"Everton vs Tottenham: Player & Manager Grades Poll","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18154039/everton-tottenham-6-2-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratings"}]}'></div></aside><h1 id="EsF91Y">Disallowed goal was a foreboding sign</h1>
<p id="VbcGbP">The moment Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first half header to put the Blues up 2-0 was disallowed, it seemed like things were not going to go Everton’s way. There’s an entire article to be written about whether or not that goal should or shouldn’t have been allowed, but it clearly was a sign of things to come. </p>
<p id="S2APSn">It’s impossible to quantify momentum or how certain goals affect how a team will play for the remainder of the match. While Everton’s first goal was huge for them, a second goal would have likely put them on the path to leaving this match with some kind of points. Instead Tottenham settled into the game and proceeded to steamroll Everton for most of the match. </p>
<p id="h0lM9E">Everton may have still lost this match even after going up two goals, but it felt like any chance of this game going their way vanished with that disallowed goal. That second goal did eventually come, but at far too late a point in the match for it to mean anything. </p>
<aside id="XO3M2N"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Silva makes curious comments defending his misfiring Everton side","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18154153/everton-tottenham-6-2-recap-reaction-marco-silva-comments"},{"title":"Everton vs Tottenham: Live Blog | 6-2 final score, utter humiliation","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18153625/everton-tottenham-6-2-recap-reaction-goals-highlights-son-dele-kane-eriksen-walcott-sigurdsson"}]}'></div></aside><h1 id="nTdnf1">Not even a moral victory</h1>
<p id="5Q5TSm"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/16/18143171/manchester-city-everton-recap-analysis-premier-league-champions-marco-silva-richarlison-walcott">We published an article this week </a>talking about how the time for moral victories is over. It may feel good to compete for a time against these better teams, but if Everton aspire for bigger things, then “good enough” won’t do any longer. I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment, but in this match, there wasn’t even a slight moral victory to find. </p>
<p id="IccbOP">One goal losses to <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> and draws against <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> aren’t getting Everton any closer to a consistent spot in the top six. But if nothing else they show progress of some kind. There are matches where it seems like this team is a just a few fixed errors away from winning some of those matches. But in this match against Spurs, they couldn’t seem further away. Even with a nearly new back line from last season, this team still allowed six goals. A midfield that has looked very impressive at times was unable to bother Tottenham’s back line. </p>
<p id="2ilZqc">For every match where Everton look close, there is a match like this that sends our hopes crashing back down to earth. These results seem more like a constant while the close ones are the anomaly. Make no mistake, this team has improved, but there is still so much work to be done and better players to be signed before this team can even think about being a consistent top of the table club. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/24/18154001/everton-2-6-tottenham-recap-reaction-three-thoughtsmralbaugh2018-12-23T20:26:15+00:002018-12-23T20:26:15+00:00Silva makes curious comments defending his misfiring Everton side
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7oIW0YsCIaDrczRW_yxSLHhu5G0=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62731131/1074684626.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Manager hard-pressed to explain this capitulation</p> <p id="9dwjR3"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> once again bottled it at the time of asking with the spotlight on them. Marco Silva talked a big game leading up to the clash against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>, indicating how happy he was to finally take on a top six side at Goodison Park. He’ll be wanting to take those words back. </p>
<p id="P5vCng">Spurs completely dismantled the Blues 6-2 in the only game of the day, and the beating was indeed comprehensive as they could easily have had another few while the hosts defending could be described at best as utterly shambolic. </p>
<p id="gZG2j6">After the game, Silva was at a loss to describe what happened.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="ZmLzuM">“Really bad afternoon for us, really bad result for us, for our fans.</p>
<p id="EMF9Io">“We have to realise why and we will realise for sure. We started well the match, it started really balanced. We know how they are strong in counter-attack and it started like we planned it and we scored early.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="cjbPEB">If Silva would have taken his blue-tinted lenses off he would have realized that even when the Blues scored through <span>Theo Walcott</span>, it was against the run of play and the hosts hadn’t really imposed themselves. Spurs were moving the ball around well and their goals were just around the corner. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="aFooCY">“After we made the first mistake during the match when they equalised and the game changed completely.</p>
<p id="tH6Oh2">“We lost many things in our behaviour and our organisation and in this level we cannot do that.</p>
<p id="suAsrX">“At half-time we changed something in our tactical behaviour. I told them we cannot concede any more because we will score again and first two minutes of second half we conceded again.</p>
<p id="54R4i8">“Everything they went forward it was easy for them. Our organisation in our defensive moment, we don’t put enough aggressiveness in the match.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="k6Glrd"><span>Jordan Pickford</span>’s temperament has looked increasingly fragile in recent weeks since the Derby, and made another egregious error leading to a goal. His tally of three mistakes ending up in goals leads the Premier League, but Silva tried to defend him. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="Hhhg3k">“It is our job, not just with Jordan, but with all of them.</p>
<p id="SUJM0r">”Our job is to give them conditions so this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. It has happened more with our team in the last games. We have to work hard to improve these kinds of things.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="uuGWnJ">When asked if the players showed no character in today’s loss, Silva declined to comment on what he said to them. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="r66XeC">“I understand your question and like you know, everything I can say for my players I will say there inside our dressing room.</p>
<p id="vrfKj8">“We have to be more smart and I don’t have problems and I have told them we have to be more aggressive if you want to do the right things, to compete in a high level, which we did many times this season. In some moments the game in the second half, we didn’t see that.</p>
<p id="MS5qIv">”We play quick next match. We have to keep together.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="ibJVBP">As many supporters have noted, this is about the same time Silva’s campaign with <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/watford-fc">Watford FC</a> last season seemed to careen off the tracks. This holiday period will be a true test of Silva’s and Everton’s credentials as the best team outside the top six, because the Blues are certainly not near the top six right now. </p>
<p id="el9Yoq">Clearly. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18154153/everton-tottenham-6-2-recap-reaction-marco-silva-commentsCalvin2018-12-23T18:27:21+00:002018-12-23T18:27:21+00:00Everton vs Tottenham: Player & Manager Grades Poll
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cfF_hzV9BGHVECrLg6OcGARmcS8=/0x0:4002x2668/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62730736/1074676822.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Grade the Everton players and manager on their performance today </p> <p id="RkJ5qL">Who was your <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> Man of the Match in today’s game against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>? Vote to grade the players and manager on how they did.</p>
<p id="Qm0i1Q"><em>If this poll is not showing up on your screen, please </em><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/RUs5XqSIMXqUvlQm1"><em><strong>click here</strong></em></a><em> to go and grade the players - we apologize for the inconvenience.</em></p>
<div id="cqxioo"><iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdJ2E-ha62KPsBz31A9Hvo3VqmcFzYyiBlYwjwhXwh4IN8Rg/viewform?embedded=true" width="100%" height="800" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe></div>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18154039/everton-tottenham-6-2-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratingsCalvin2018-12-23T18:18:51+00:002018-12-23T18:18:51+00:00Everton 2-6 Tottenham: Instant Reaction | Shambles All Around
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PLa0pWjR8aRfbpdH_gv008YdFl8=/65x0:3188x2082/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62730714/1074684112.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Blues humiliated at home by elite Spurs side</p> <p id="8aF0UH"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> fans - hope you have a very short memory because the sooner you forget this the better. </p>
<p id="yGNeps">Marco Silva named his best fit XI to start this game, and though the squad didn’t look great, it looked adequate to be competitive at least against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>. How wrong that assumption was. </p>
<p id="42K0bS">Spurs took control of the game right from the outset but it was Everton who fashioned the first real chance of the game and took an unexpected lead through Theo Walcott. However, the fragile confidence the Blues had built was about to come crashing down. </p>
<aside id="ihGpwi"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton vs Tottenham: Live Blog | 6-2 final score, utter humiliation","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18153625/everton-tottenham-6-2-recap-reaction-goals-highlights-son-dele-kane-eriksen-walcott-sigurdsson"}]}'></div></aside><p id="9AnT17">A horrendous miscommunication between <span>Jordan Pickford</span> and Kurt Zouma allowed man of the match Heung-min Son to equalize. Questions certainly need to be asked of the England number one after another display of suspect decision-making. </p>
<p id="EvjmeN">Everton appeared to pretty much give up after that, as they allowed Dele Alli and <span>Harry Kane</span> to score in quick succession and make the game 3-1 to Spurs at the break. </p>
<p id="VSnVXw">Marco Silva has appeared to influence his side with his halftime talks this season, but today was not one of those games. More lackadaisical defending with a high line allowed <span>Christian Eriksen</span> to bang home a spectacular volley into the corner made it 4-1 and game over. </p>
<aside id="qV86wC"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton vs Tottenham: Player & Manager Grades Poll","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18154039/everton-tottenham-6-2-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratings"}]}'></div></aside><p id="MjpsRf">Gylfi Sigurdsson looked more alive in the second half, and got a good goal, weaving through four players at the edge of the box before beating Hugo Lloris. At 4-2, it didn’t look a comeback was on the cards, and Spurs ensured there was no such thought of complacency by continuing to push forward relentlessly. </p>
<p id="31HMQd">Two more goals by Son and Kane made this the highest-scoring Premier League game of the season, and Everton’s embarrassment was complete at 6-2. </p>
<p id="uzXbdZ">The Blues can justifiably complain about Paul Tierney’s questionable refereeing, but a sharp Spurs side and an incompetent Everton team made for the perfect trifecta of woe for the Blues just days before Christmas. Sigh. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18154021/everton-2-6-tottenham-instant-reaction-match-recap-utter-shambles-goals-highlightsCalvin2018-12-23T17:53:22+00:002018-12-23T17:53:22+00:00Everton vs Tottenham: Live Blog | 6-2 final score, utter humiliation
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<img alt="Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q_E4mgvJvrIoJon9HvfEeWEDOek=/47x0:4844x3198/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62729737/1074677008.jpg.1545582721.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>First game at home against the top six</p> <h1 id="imkJZx">Live Blog</h1>
<p id="eRAcZO"><strong>Full-time -</strong> It’s 6-2 to the visitors, and the utter humiliation is complete. Goes down in history as one of the worst losses at home in the Premier League era and a season that had started with so much promise looks completely off the rails even before the halfway point. </p>
<p id="0x9WN0">90’ - Almost over Blues, almost over. </p>
<p id="ph2JmT">74’ - Everton defence picked apart easily once again - Coleman beaten, Keane beaten, Zouma beaten as Alderweireld, Son and Kane combine with precision to make it 6-2. Joke of a defence here now. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">There's no stopping them today! Harry Kane scores his second and Tottenham's sixth! <a href="https://t.co/pM1whXFX7N">pic.twitter.com/pM1whXFX7N</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1076893590796857350?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="5PkbgW">70’ - Been nothing much to report in the last few minutes. Everton still futilely moving the ball around, Spurs very comfortable breaking play up and looking dangerous on the break. </p>
<p id="gejUqF">62’ - More embarrassment. Son finds his way between Keane and Zouma and Lamela has all the time to pick the perfect pass. Son then nutmegs Pickford to rub it in. 5-2 Spurs. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sonny does it again! <br><br>There's a half hour left in EVETOT - get to NBCSN now! Or stream: <a href="https://t.co/e8nLMiA07C">https://t.co/e8nLMiA07C</a> <a href="https://t.co/i0sSf3XRs6">pic.twitter.com/i0sSf3XRs6</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1076890589222834177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="kXA7cw">53’ - Andre Gomes is down injured, and <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> comes on for him. First game in months for the Frenchman. </p>
<p id="Ndkotn">51’ - Sigurdsson looking recharged, and gets his goal against his former side. Beats four men and places his shot in the far corner beyond a sprawling Hugo Lloris. 4-2 now, no shortage of goals here. </p>
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<p id="PAcXxI">49’ - Yikes. Spectacular shot from <span>Christian Eriksen</span> ensures that every one of the Spurs’ four forwards have a goal. Coleman’s poor clearance volleyed beautifully into the corner of the net, nothing either the defender or goalkeeper could do. </p>
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<p lang="nl" dir="ltr">What a hit Eriksen! <a href="https://t.co/gHRRj05dQb">pic.twitter.com/gHRRj05dQb</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1076887320928940032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="OtKayA">48’ - Sigurdsson’s persistence and quick feet wins him a corner on the left. He took on three players multiple times and somehow kept the ball. Corner is cleared, of course. </p>
<p id="c4L4qa">46’ - The second half is underway. Erik Lamela is on for Dele Alli at the break. </p>
<p id="4rQKaw"><strong>Halftime -</strong> It’s 3-1 to Tottenham at the break. Tierney not giving that second Everton goal proving to be a gamechanger, but plenty of Blues are having awful games too, Pickford, Zouma, Coleman all terrible. </p>
<p id="3FlVEq">42’ - And another one. Needless foul from Zouma gives Spurs a freekick from an excellent position. Trippier curls it around the wall and off the base of Pickford’s left post, and the rebound falls kindly for Kane from ten yards out and he doesn’t miss from there. 3-1 now, three goals in fifteen minutes for the visitors. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kane gets his goal and Spurs are flying! <a href="https://t.co/Dbm9YDhfjZ">pic.twitter.com/Dbm9YDhfjZ</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1076882074085277698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="HsZ4KL">36’ - Pickford saves well from Son, but Dele scores on the rebound. Spurs breaking through the Blues’ high line at will right now, 2-1 to the visitors. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dele Dele! Spurs come from behind to take the lead! <a href="https://t.co/NyIE3CIU6H">pic.twitter.com/NyIE3CIU6H</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1076879923158155265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="b9N8ZW">33’ - <span>Kieran Trippier</span> first to go in the book, going chest high into DCL with his studs showing. </p>
<p id="MVuPPI">27’ - Horrendous miscommunication between Zouma and Pickford allows Son to equalize. Long ball over the top, goalie comes out to clear, Zouma gets in his way, and ball falls kindly to the South Korean who pots into a gaping wide net. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">SON! That's an amazing finish by him! <a href="https://t.co/DhFHej3VMg">pic.twitter.com/DhFHej3VMg</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1076877384589152256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="i6olm5">24’ - Is that 2-0?! No!! Another dodgy call/non-call from the referee as DCL pots a fantastic header into the far left to corner, but its given as a push by the forward on Davinson Sanchez. Goodison is very unhappy with that call from Paul Tierney. </p>
<p id="FGw3xD">21’ - THEO!! Walcott comes sliding in and puts Everton ahead! Beautiful buildup from Sigurdsson to release DCL down the channel, and his centre is slotted in somewhat clumsily by Walcott, for his sixth goal against Spurs. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GOAL Everton! Theo Walcott gets the goal. <a href="https://t.co/C2jtRM6BUO">pic.twitter.com/C2jtRM6BUO</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1076875906092797953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="jbASAt">16’ - Sarcastic cheers as once again Kane is through on goal but this time the offside is called. Spurs certainly dominating the play right now. </p>
<p id="tCxLkO">12’ - Whoa, <span>Harry Kane</span> spurns a perfect chance to take the lead. Played onside by Kurt Zouma on a long ball, <span>Jordan Pickford</span> rushes out and Kane volleys wide and over. <br>Son drags the ball out before crossing but somehow all the officials miss it - Goodison is livid as Davies gets a shooting chance that Pickford parries it away. </p>
<p id="tDeT8H">10’ - Close! First chance falls to the Blues as Richarlison heads a perfect cross just wide. Both Sigurdsson and DCL lunged at it but failed to get a touch. </p>
<p id="ZXYAOQ">6’ - Calvert-Lewin’s pace causing some issues down Spur’s right, all of the Blues’ endavours have been on our left. Coleman yet to leave his half of the pitch. </p>
<p id="maj7X9">4’ - Spurs playing with a midfield diamond, passing the ball around pretty freely. Everton yet to find their groove here. </p>
<p id="hdXbU7">1’ - We’re underway!</p>
<p id="LnHRmt"><strong>Lineups -</strong> Two changes for Marco Silva as Idrissa Gueye is still out while Richarlison returns to his spot on the wing and Dominic Calvert-Lewin comes in as lead striker. Slightly surprised Ademola Lookman is not even in the squad, appears both he and Gana are still nursing knocks. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | It's team news time, Blues!<br><br>2️⃣ changes.<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/theowalcott?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theowalcott</a> returns to the XI.<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/1TomDavies?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1TomDavies</a> starts. <a href="https://t.co/EvKso4M44u">pic.twitter.com/EvKso4M44u</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/1076855006484197376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="YRIKpO">Spurs name a full-strength squad for this game too, lineups below. </p>
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<p id="gdx5pD"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> are about to start a run of four games in ten days that will pretty much determine whether they will continue to wallow in the mire of midtable teams or make a concerted challenge to break into the top six. </p>
<p id="Iqa3mE">The visitors today are <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>, who harbor ambitions of top two themselves. The London side are struggling with injury issues, but should have a strong enough side to make things competitive today at Goodison Park. </p>
<h1 id="tj4rzW">Match Details</h1>
<p id="Tn0k5V"><strong>Date and start time:</strong> Sunday, December 23rd at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m ET / 4:00 p.m. BST</p>
<p id="jLb1aE"><strong>Stadium:</strong> Goodison Park, <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/england">England</a>, United Kingdom</p>
<p id="sd4UgU"><strong>Capacity:</strong> 39,572</p>
<p id="jWmOa0"><strong>Weather: </strong>44°F/7°C, light rain, 35% chance of precipitation, 5 mph winds</p>
<h1 id="NylbZy">How to Watch/Listen</h1>
<p id="ZqDVb5"><strong>TV:</strong> NBCSN - <em>United States</em><em>; </em>Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event <em>- </em> <em>United Kingdom,</em> TSN2, RDS2 - <em>Canada</em>, SuperSport 3, RMC Sport 1, beIN Sports, DAZN</p>
<p id="mGBAfE"><strong>Radio: </strong>Everton Match Centre, BBC Radio 5 Live, TalkSport Radio World, SiriusXM FC</p>
<p id="41ULCC"><strong>Live stream:</strong> <a href="http://nbcsports.com/">NBCSports.com</a>, Telemundo, <a href="https://fave.co/2OrDihv" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">fuboTV</a>, TSN GO, beIN Sports Connect, Flow Sports App, Optus Sport</p>
<p id="FsYgq9"><strong>Gamethread:</strong> Liveblog will be updated above from one hour before kickoff</p>
<p id="eB2O1I"><a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3018857/everton-vs-tottenham-hotspur/">Information from LiveSoccerTV.com</a></p>
<h1 id="k6zWnV">Lineups</h1>
<h3 id="Zz6RPN">Everton</h3>
<p id="HBo89P"><strong>Starting XI: </strong>Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne; Gomes, Davies: Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Calvert-Lewin</p>
<p id="68MO8R"><strong>Subs:</strong> Stekelenburg, Mina, Baines, Schneiderlin, Bernard, Tosun, Niasse</p>
<h3 id="hYm7g5">Tottenham</h3>
<p id="curC6F"><strong>Starting XI: </strong>Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane. </p>
<p id="Tvt9dO"><strong>Subs:</strong> Gazzaniga, Rose, Foyth, Walker-Peters, Skipp, Lamela, Lucas</p>
<p id="hTB7LV"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/23/18153625/everton-tottenham-6-2-recap-reaction-goals-highlights-son-dele-kane-eriksen-walcott-sigurdssonCalvin2018-12-22T19:00:02+00:002018-12-22T19:00:02+00:00Writer Prediction League: Everton’s holiday fixtures
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<img alt="Everton FC v Brighton &amp; Hove Albion - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OnOkQwyfvZXPpdk3dyGPFLqtQFM=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62727317/1056756534.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Leicester City on the schedule</p> <p id="g6LbAI">Somehow, though we are 17/38ths of the way through the Premier League season, we aren’t quite sure how good this <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> team really is.</p>
<p id="86Q1kv">The Toffees’ schedule to this point has been almost exclusively composed of two types of matches — away to the top six and home against mid-table or lower clubs. </p>
<p id="XtUt8a">We already knew that <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a>, <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>, <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>, and <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> have more talent and will finish above Everton this season — so there wasn’t really an expectation to steal many points away to those clubs.</p>
<p id="CINJQ6">We already knew that Everton is better than clubs like Fulham, <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a>, and Cardiff — so picking up most of the available points in home matches against those clubs wasn’t exactly informative either.</p>
<p id="akpFrn">Now, with the ludicrously hectic holiday period upon us, we’re going to get our first extended look at what Everton truly is. Can the Toffees win at home against top-six opposition, like the <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> side that travels to Goodison Park this weekend? Can they win away to lower-table opposition like <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> and Brighton and Hove Albion?</p>
<p id="VkdmPH">Over the course of the next few weeks, the answers to these questions will help us determine whether Everton is a legitimate top-six threat, or just working toward another mid-table finish. </p>
<p id="0Ur1xG">But, before we look ahead at our predictions for that match, let’s take a quick look back at last weekend’s match against Manchester City.</p>
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<p id="PKXCit">There were a few moderately optimistic individuals among us heading into the City match — that optimism was thoroughly squashed. No one had Lucas Digne as the Everton man of the match, but Brian F. and I did correctly pick Gabriel Jesus as the match’s opening scorer.</p>
<p id="layUDa">Those who correctly picked the final score of the match were the biggest winners this week, as is reflecting in our standings.</p>
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<p id="Rd8dvK">Calvin actually widened the gap atop the table, despite Brian F. and I both picking up three points. At the bottom of the table, Rachel, Zach, Sean, and Tom are watching the mid-table writers slowly slip away.</p>
<p id="9OQ4jq">This could be the last chance for some of the stragglers to get into a competitive position heading into the second half of the season — a staggering 24 points are on the table in the upcoming weeks.</p>
<p id="N1oahH">Our picks for the next four matches are as follows.</p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/22/18151610/everton-predictions-preview-holiday-festive-period-tottenham-hotspur-burnley-brighton-leicester-cityAdam.Braun2018-12-22T16:00:06+00:002018-12-22T16:00:06+00:00Everton v Tottenham - Premier League Preview
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<img alt="Everton v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jGVko-02VCdD0qp5rGvvKahMvds=/0x0:4864x3243/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62721921/844898858.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Toffees face tough start to hectic festive programme</p> <p id="Xja4xu">Festive greetings to you all.</p>
<p id="IAGMyH"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> begin their busy Christmas period again looking to improve their dismal record against the ‘big six’ following their defeat at the Etihad Stadium last weekend (22 league games without a win now).</p>
<p id="LdBo4S">It wasn’t the worst Toffees performance I have seen but familiar failings let the side down, namely a lack of killer instinct in front of goal and sloppy mistakes at the back.</p>
<p id="4oDxpr">All three City goals were easily preventable, though given the firepower at their disposal that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have won the game anyway. But we certainly could have made things tougher for Pep Guardiola’s side, not least if Richarlison hadn’t blasted a glorious early opportunity over the bar.</p>
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<img alt="Manchester City v Everton FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mgljYbe8QGBiBwEo_9Db9HtqA8U=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13643310/1073617174.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="MvGztI">But defeat it was and it means the club have gone four games without a victory for the first time this season.</p>
<p id="MEpB5x">The one positive is that Everton have now played six of the current top seven away from home, with the trip to Tottenham not until the final game of the season.</p>
<p id="56lwl8">We look a much more formidable team at Goodison Park (not against <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a> and Watford, admittedly) so I’d fancy us to give those top sides a much tougher time in the second half of the season.</p>
<p id="hFpezh">That starts with the arrival of Spurs on Sunday, a game pushed back 24 hours by the TV broadcasters. I’ve no issue with games being moved for TV, the companies pay a hefty price after all. But there’s no doubt that they could and should be able to balance the festive fixtures out more fairly than they have done.</p>
<p id="46xE6j">Everton have been particularly hard done by having been asked to play the final game of this weekend’s fixtures and have their game against Leicester switched to an early kick-off on New Year’s Day. It means Everton have the fewest amount of hours between their four festive fixtures than any other side. <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> meanwhile have the most recovery time - over a hundreds hours longer than Everton.</p>
<p id="0ER7ew">It seems more than a little unfair but there is little we can do but grin and bear it. It will certainly represent a true test of Marco Silva’s squad, with those who have spent time on the sidelines likely to be brought into the fray.</p>
<p id="ka4HQl">Playing so many games in such a short space of time also relies heavily on momentum, which makes Sunday’s game so important.</p>
<p id="P8Qc7D">A positive result would help expunge the frustration that has gathered over the past few weeks and set things up nicely for the next fortnight.</p>
<h3 id="Pef2cj">The opposition</h3>
<p id="M1Tdcv">In 2014 Everton finished fifth in the Premier League, one place and three points above Tottenham. That summer Spurs appointed <span>Mauricio Pochettino</span> as manager and they haven’t looked back.</p>
<p id="bZulJP">The club have finished third, second and third again in the last three seasons, finishing a hefty 28 points ahead of the Toffees last time out. They also head to Goodison unbeaten in their last meetings against the Toffees, stretching back to that dramatic 2-1 Jelavic inspired win in 2012.</p>
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<img alt="Everton v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z1WXd3IYp47KjnHbseI1WYhDhW0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13643316/158025423.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="NlgyTL">What makes it more remarkable is that Pochettino has not spent that much money, especially compared to those sides around Tottenham in the table.</p>
<p id="VWVfGM">Instead, those old school values of coaching, team building and development of youth has contributed to Spurs’ rise.</p>
<p id="BLACd0">They have been helped of course by a world-class goalscorer falling in their lap in the shape of Harry Kane. But the team has also been supplement by astute buys such as Dele Alli, <span>Jan Vertonghen</span>, Son Hueng-Min and <span>Christian Eriksen</span>.</p>
<p id="SGJaWF">The Goodison meeting last season was so one-sided it was embarrassing, and the first early sign that all was not well with <span>Ronald Koeman</span> side. It was also a reminder of just how far Tottenham have surged ahead in recent years.</p>
<p id="9AgiEx">They have shown no signs of faltering this season despite not making a single signing over the summer, sitting third in the league, through to the EFL Cup semi-finals and the last 16 of the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a>. All this while still playing at Wembley while their new stadium is finalised.</p>
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<img alt="Everton v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sL1XwCAW_IpaR0PCyH3gQrzIHCE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13643317/844868750.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="TebSqW">The one criticism labelled against Pochettino is his failure to yet land a major trophy and you get the impression his legacy will only be truly secured if he does so sooner rather than later.</p>
<p id="8KOD0N">Then there is the Man Utd question. Reports suggest Pochettino would be interested in discussing the possibility of taking the top job at Old Trafford in the summer, with suggestions his spending power at Tottenham will be significantly limited over the next few years due to the new stadium costs.</p>
<p id="g4wOaN">That makes the next few months even more important as he looks to get the most out of this current crop of players while he still can.</p>
<h3 id="BZRosz">Team news</h3>
<p id="DUOqD6">Idrissa Gueye is to be assessed as he continues his recovery from a groin injury that saw him miss last week’s defeat at Man City.</p>
<p id="bdjx07"><span>James McCarthy</span> is fit again after a broken leg but is likely to be eased back in over the festive period.</p>
<p id="LxsN1x">Richarlison and Andre Gomes both missed training with minor aliments this week but will be fit for Sunday.</p>
<h3 id="z8OMuC">Final word</h3>
<p id="td4lTZ">A pre-festive match against a top side under the lights at Goodison sounds the ideal way to kick-off the holiday season. It may just be the type of contest the players need after struggling to break down stubborn opposition at home in their last two games.</p>
<p id="t6duf4">It will be tough, Tottenham have proven consistently to be one of the best sides in the league. But they have been on a hectic run themselves so I’m hopeful we can at least take something from the game and send us into Christmas content.</p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/12/22/18151441/everton-v-tottenham-premier-league-match-preview-harry-kane-richarlison-yerry-minaTom Mallows