Vitalii Mykolenko looks set to be involved after missing the last two games through injury
Everton travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium looking to lift themselves back up after disappointment in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening with what would be a fourth successive win in the Capital.
The Blues were beaten on penalties by Fulham and denied an all-Merseyside semi-final against Liverpool when Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye failed to convert on the shootout on Tuesday but the focus now shifts back to the Premier League and the ongoing quest to avoid relegation following the points deduction imposed by the Premier League last month.
Over the last 10 League matches, Everton have been in Champions League-qualifying form but they face what is arguably their most difficult assignment since the Anfield derby in October when they face a Tottenham side that has been rebounding from a loss of form and an injury crisis of their own.
Ange Postecoglu’s team was already disrupted by the loss of key players like James Maddison, Ivan Perisic and Rodrigo Bentancur when they had two men sent off against Chelsea at the start of last month and went down to a 4-1 home defeat.
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That was the North Londoners’ first defeat of the campaign and they followed it with two more against Wolves and Aston Villa but so far this month, they have held Manchester City to a 3-3 draw, thrashed Newcastle and won at Nottingham Forest.
Their defeat on home turf to West Ham two weeks ago, however, offers hope to Everton that Spurs can be beaten even as some of their injured players start to return, Richarlison has started to score goals and they look more the outfit that started the season in such red hot form.
Postecoglu will also be without Destiny Udogie and key midfield man, Yves Bissouma through suspension, while Maddison, Perisic, Bentancur, Ryan Sessegnon and Micky can de Ven are ruled out through injury. Giovani Lo Celso and Brennan Johnson are doubtful.
For the Toffees, Vitalii Mykolenko looks set to be passed fit. He missed the win at Burnley a week ago and the Carabao Cup tie with an apparent groin issue but Sean Dyche confirmed in his press conference today that the Ukrainian is “back in the thinking” for this weekend.
Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young won’t be fit, however, and Abdoulaye Doucouré also remains out, with the Frenchman unlikely to feature against Manchester City on the other side of Christmas either.
A fully fit and firing Blues team would fancy themselves to pull off what would be a first Everton win at Tottenham in front of a crowd since 2009. However, the absence of Doucouré removes a key component of the attack and tends to leave Dominic Calvert-Lewin isolated and less effective leading the line.
Jack Harrison and James Garner have been deployed in the role behind the striker in recent weeks while Arnaut Danjuma offers a possible alternative based on his cameo against Fulham in the Cup but Dyche may err on the side of midfield solidity and partner Idrissa Gueye with Amadou Onana and push Garner into the “10” position once more.
And if Tuesday’s game has any bearing on the manager’s thinking, he could hand Calvert-Lewin a breather and play Beto from the start. The Portuguese is looking increasingly at home in England as his fitness and experience of the Premier League builds and he would, no doubt, relish the opportunity.
At the back, Mykolenko’s presence would allow Dyche to retain a conventional back four, with James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite restored to the centre.
Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 23 December, 2023
Referee: Stuart Atwell
VAR: Michael Oliver
Last Time: Tottenham Hotspur 2 – 0 Everton
Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Onana, Harrison, McNeil, Garner, Beto
Reader Comments (10)
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Derek Knox
2 Posted
21/12/2023 at
20:21:50
Very apt since Mykolenko has been out; how much he was missed… especially Tuesday night. We need our strongest possible eleven available for Saturday!
Danny O’Neill
3 Posted
21/12/2023 at
20:28:40
Forget the penalty. Onana to build on his Burnley performance and goal. Garner & Gueye.
Harrison can have a go at this lot, as can McNeil.
Beto to bully their defenders.
As always, I don’t care who plays, just compete and fight.
Nigel Munford
4 Posted
21/12/2023 at
22:46:54
No question of contention if hes fit hell play, should always be first choice.
Kieran Kinsella
5 Posted
22/12/2023 at
00:40:55
Good point. This wing back malarkey isnt working out. Myko has also become an attacking threat. He was a bit of a slow burner but hes showing his quality now. Also, if we dont cross paths again on ToffeeWeb have a merry Christmas mate.
Simon Harrison
6 Posted
22/12/2023 at
03:33:48
That’s all…
John Atkinson
7 Posted
22/12/2023 at
04:30:14
I went to Spurs in 1996 with my Australian wife. I’d introduced her to Everton. She became overwhelmed by all things Everton. We (thank to ESCLA)
We went to the scum and saw out a nil nil shite match. We were both Social Workers at the time. Living in Aton. Tracey wore our away strip shirt in yellow and blue stripes and I in collared DANKA. We left the ground and jew boys decided to batter us for no reason. We were no threat to them but my wife suffered a bad head injury from a flying bottle.
Just saying I fucking hate Spurs with a passion called hate
£70 Onana?? Please
Ajay Gopal
9 Posted
22/12/2023 at
06:42:24
Lyndon, I doubt that Dyche will replace Calvert-Lewin for Beto. Dyche (like Moyes all those years ago) trusts a few key players and is loathe to change things unless there is an injury/suspension. Doucoure will be a big miss with his goals and nuisance value in the box. But perhaps Onana steps into that role and hopefully, he has been practicing all week on striking the football with force. Strangely, Dyche has not used Dobbin since that goal he scored against Burnley – I would like to see him come on at some point. The defence is looking pretty solid – the opposition has not scored against us the past 5 games (I am not counting the Keane OG) which is pretty darn impressive. Tottenham will be a different kettle of fish though, with Son, Richarlison, Kulusevski in good form. But the rest of their team (based on available players) is no great shakes and if Everton can keep the ball in midfield and convert the chances that come our way, I am hoping we can come away with a decent result.
Steve Shave
10 Posted
22/12/2023 at
07:10:51
Myko coming back is a huge bonus, I am one of the few on here who believed he would come good as a solid defensive LB and am delighted to have been proved right, baller. I’d pick the team suggested above except swapping DCL and Beto around, Beto to come on early if things aren’t going our way.
John Atkinson, I am sorry you and your partner went through that, I can understand your “hate”. We can get something from this, let’s do it for John and his Mrs COYB!
Derek Knox
11 Posted
22/12/2023 at
07:12:59
Seriously, wishing you and all TW’ers the very best for Xmas. A special thanks to Lyndon and Michael for their continuous good work bring all things Everton to our Screens !
Hope Swan (Lake) gets his selection right against Spurs and we have a Nutcracker of a game !
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
Paul Hewitt
1 Posted
21/12/2023 at
20:14:13
Great news. He’s been excellent this season.