Tottenham at Everton FA Cup Fifth Round Preview, Prediction

When Last Everton and Tottenham Met

Tottenham and Everton played in the opening match of the Premier League season. Spurs were busy planning for Europa League qualifying and came out flat as a pancake in the match. Although Tottenham actually had slightly more possession at 51%, it was Everton who took the lion’s share of the shots, with 15 to Tottenham’s 9, and leveraged 14 free kicks and Dominic Calvert-Lewin‘s first goal of the season for the 0-1 victory.

Interestingly it was the second straight 1-0 match following a 1-1 draw back in 2019. It is interesting in that over three matches there were only four goals scored between the two teams. However, in the prior to matches in December 2018 and May 2019 the two teams combined for 12 goals in a 2-6 Spurs win and a 2-2 draw. While it is unlikely we are going to see eight goals on Wednesday in Merseyside the four could happen as both teams need the win.

Probably Line-ups

If you look at whoscored.com expect to see Everton in their 4-2-3-1 with both Rodriguez and Pickford missing out. Everton will start – Olsen, Digne, Keane, Mina, Coleman, Gomes, Doucouré , Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, and Calvert-Lewin.

Tottenham is projected to also role with a 4-2-3-1 line-up that is filled with a mix of normal starters and reserves. Whoscored.com projects: Hart, Doherty, Rodon, Dier, Davies, Højbjerg, Winks, Bale, Lamela, Moura, and Kane. That line-up is relatively similar to the one we are projecting here from HotspurHQ.

Prediction

To the delight of the fans and the discontentment of both managers this game is going to be about who scores last more than anything. Expect both teams to look to attack each other as they want to not only win the game, but do so in regulation and avoid extra time. That Additional Extra Time is automatically 30 minutes before going to penalties and given the state of both locker rooms, neither team can afford that AET.

The teams are going to go back and fourth with the lead changing hands at least twice. Expect Everton to execute a set piece and Son to dance around Mina. Ultimately, this game is going to be decide in the last 15 minutes and it will be the prodigal son for Tottenham Dele Alli who changes things. A late flash into the box connecting on a ball from his old pal Harry Kane will get Alli in to do what he does best, finish the ball. Spurs win 2-3 and advance, and Dele is back with a bit of redemption – such is the magic of the FA Cup.