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    Tottenham vs Everton news: Spurs to pile the pressure on troubled Toffees

    Paul HighamPaul Higham7 March 2022
    Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte during Carabao Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur stadium , London, England on 12th December 2022

    Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte during Carabao Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur stadium , London, England on 12th December 2022

    Tottenham are looking to close the gap on fourth-placed Arsenal while Everton are desperately trying to pull clear of the relegation zone in what promises to be a fierce battle on Monday night.

    Even Antonio Conte is bemused by the startling lack of consistency being shown by his side at the moment, perhaps the word 'Spursy' doesn't translate into Italian.

    Spurs are six points behind the Gunners having played the same amount of games as their fierce rivals, and while they're in seventh they have three games in hand on both West Ham and Man Utd above them.
    So it could be an all-north London battle for fourth spot but it has to start with a Spurs win here, against an Everton side just one point above the drop zone.
    Frank Lampard's side do have games in hand on the teams around them and do fall into the "too good to go down" category, but they're down there for a reason and their away form this season has been awful.
    Tottenham have also dominated this fixture with just one defeat in 18 so it's a game Spurs really should win, but as we've seen recently that's absolutely no guarantee at all.

    When: Monday, March 7, 20:00 GMT

    Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

    Where to watch: Sky Sports

    Follow this game via our score centre

    Who is the ref for Tottenham vs Everton?

    Stuart Atwell, Premier League, referee, Manchester City
    Stuart Atwell is the man in the middle at Tottenham on Monday and he's taken charge of these teams twice each this season, with mixed results.
    Everton have lost both of their games with Atwell in charge, although he's only shown them one yellow card across those two games.
    Spurs have won one and lost one of their games with Atwell on the whistle, with six bookings shown to Tottenham players in those matches.
    Atwell did point to the spot in Tottenham's favour this season though as one of four penalties he's awarded in the Premier League.
    Dele Alli, now with Everton of course, scored that penalty to give Spurs a 1-0 win at Wolves.

    Season stats 2021/22: Premier League matches (13), yellows (42), reds (1), penalties (4)

    Recent form

    Just toss a coin for Tottenham as their form is almost exclusively alternating between wins and defeats recently - having won seven and lost six of their last 13 matches.

    It's not just the results though, but the contrast in the performances is night and day as they've won at Man City in a thriller and dismantled Leeds 4-0 at Elland Road on their best form.
    Yet they've been lifeless and toothless in defeats to Wolves and Burnley, and even mixed in a limp display in their FA Cup exit at Middlesbrough.

    No wonder Conte is left scratching his head.

    Everton haven't won away from home in the league since August, yet in another puzzling form line they've drawn at both Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge - and could have won at both.

    Lampard has lost three of his four Premier League games in charge of Everton, but they did have a much-improved display against Man City, when only a farcical VAR call denied them a penalty.
    Another hard-working display like that could cause Spurs problems.

    Tottenham and Everton players in form

    It's hard to say any Spurs players are "in form" as they're so inconsistent, and it's right through the team including Harry Kane.

    The England captain was outstanding against Man City and Leeds and ordinary against Wolves, Burnley and Boro - it's hard to know who will turn up even with him, will it be Superman or Clark Kent?

    Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane broke the record for most goal contributions as a partnership

    Son Heung-min always gives 100 percent and leads the team with 10 goals and five assists, but even he's been relatively ineffective in recent displays, but if Spurs are to win games then Son and Kane need to shine.

    Everton defended well against Man City, worked hard and covered ground well, but they'll need something a bit extra from Richarlison or Anthony Gordon in attack. Demarai Gray was their best player until injury struck, and if he can return at Spurs that will be a big boost.

    Lampard's central duo of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure played well against City and that partnership could also be tough for Spurs to better at the heart of midfield.

    Last three matches

    Everton 0-0 Tottenham (November 7, 2021)

    A tough first game in charge of Tottenham for Antonio Conte as his side failed to get a single shot in on target in a drab goalless draw against Everton at Goodison Park.
    Mason Holgate was sent off for the hosts late on in what was a frustrating game for them but one that in hindsight summed up the struggles they were about to have.

    Everton 2-2 Tottenham (April 16, 2021)

    An entertaining draw in April with both sides going all out for the win at Goodison.
    Harry Kane and Gylfi Sigurdsson both scored twice as Spurs led early, only for Everton to level just four minutes later in the first half with a penalty.
    Sigurdsson then put the Toffees ahead just after the hour, but again the lead was short-lived as Kane levelled six minutes later.

    Everton 5-4 Tottenham (February 10, 2021)

    What a game this was! A huge back-and-forth battle of an FA Cup tie that went to extra time after goals flew in from all angles.

    Spurs led after just three minutes but goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson powered the hosts into a 3-1 lead. Erik Lamela made it 3-2 though in first-half stoppage time.
    Davinson Sanchez levelled with his second of the game before Richarlison and Harry Kane traded goals to force extra time, where Bernard won it for the hosts.

    Last 10 league meetings

    Tottenham wins: 5
    Draws: 4
    Everton wins: 1
    Tottenham scored: 22
    Everton scored: 10

    Managers' thoughts

    Frank Lampard needs a win for Everton at Tottenham

    Everton boss Frank Lampard is expecting a hot reception from the Spurs crowd as a former West Ham and Chelsea star, but not as bad as his assistant Ashley Cole will get for his Arsenal links.

    "I don't expect a good reception - but speaking to Ashley Cole he expects a worse reception than me!" he said.
    "But it's not part of my thinking, I'm actually not even considering the games I've played with or managed at Chelsea - it's a completely different position.
    "You have to take the sting out of the opposition wherever you go, the focal point has to be us."

    Tottenham manager Antonio Conte continues to try and settle to his new normal as Spurs boss, but he's by no means enjoying not being in a position to win trophies.

    "This is a new challenge for me," he said. "For sure you need patience and you know at this moment you can't fight for something important, for what I am used to doing in my past and I think I deserved to do in the past.
    "I deserved to stay and fight to win the league, to win trophies, because someone gave me something in my career.
    "Now this is a new experience. I repeat, I am enjoying these months, we are fighting a lot because we are trying to change a lot of situations on the pitch and outside of the pitch. But if I get to be honest it is not easy."

    Tottenham vs Everton teams

    Tottenham have Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Moura back after missing out with an ankle injury and dead leg respectively.

    Oliver Skipp is still out with his groin injury while Japhet Tanganga misses out with a knee injury.

    Dominic Calvert-Lewin could return for Everton after missing the last two games with a groin problem.

    Demarai Gray could also be available after missing the FA Cup tie with Boreham Wood with a fever, while Andre Gomes also returns after a thigh problem.
    Possible Tottenham starting line-up: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Kulusevski, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Lucas, Kane, Son
    Possible Everton starting line-up: Pickford; Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Kenny; Allan, Doucoure, Van de Beek; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Gordon

    Tottenham vs Everton prediction

    This one could genuinely go either way with the teams we have involved, but Everton have been so poor away from home and Lampard is not usually a manager who likes to sit back and defend.
    Tottenham could be anything but they've had a bit of time to prepare for this and that usually bodes well for them under Conte so you just have to fancy a home win.

    Unless something 'Spursy' happens.

    READ MORE: Conte again questions future as Tottenham boss

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