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Premier League Preview: Tottenham faces Everton with Stellini in charge

By Ben Wylie

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur is fouled in the box by Jordan Pickford of Everton which leads to a Tottenham Hotspur penalty during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur is fouled in the box by Jordan Pickford of Everton which leads to a Tottenham Hotspur penalty during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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With the resumption of Premier League football this weekend following the international break, Tottenham face a trip north to Everton in what is bound to be a tough test.

Despite club football’s two-week hiatus, the international break was certainly eventful for Tottenham, as Antonio Conte finally made his much-anticipated departure from the club.

His exodus was hardly surprising to anyone after his post-match tirade in which he lambasted the ownership group and players alike.

Cristian Stellini, Tottenham’s assistant manager and Conte’s long-term right-hand, man will oversee the final 10 games of the season with help from Ryan Mason; a surprising turn of events given most would have expected Stellini to leave with Conte.

However, Stellini has stepped in for Conte successfully already this season, guiding Spurs to wins over Manchester City and Chelsea and a popular character at Hotspur Way.

Stellini’s first official test in the dugout is a trip to Goodison Park to take on relegation-threatened Everton.

Despite the Toffees sitting just two points outside the relegation zone in 15th, their has improved tenfold since the appointment of former Burnley boss Sean Dyche.

In his eight games in charge of Everton, Dyche boasts a respectable record of three wins, two draws, and three losses in the league, including beating Arsenal in his first game in charge and earning a credible draw away at Chelsea last time out.

As for Spurs, we enter this one in poor form, with just one win in our last five games across all competitions, although we do still occupy fourth space in the league.

However, our squad is growing increasingly thin.

Having picked up a knock with Brazil on international duty, Emerson Royal joins Hugo Lloris, Yves Bissouma, Ben Davies, Ryan Sessegnon, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Richarlison on the treatment table, leaving Stellini with limited options ahead of Monday night’s contest.

The good news for Spurs fans is that both Richarlison and Lloris are nearing returns, but it’s unlikely we’ll see either at Goodison Park.

Spurs fans will be looking forward to seeing talisman Harry Kane back in action, as the forward became England’s all-time top goal scorer over the break with his penalty against Italy.

Also netting against Ukraine, fans will have been pleased to see Kane maintain his excellent form for the Three Lions, and hopefully he can transfer some momentum back to Spurs we approach the business end of the season.

With the race for the top four intensifying, just eight points separate Manchester United in third and Brentford in eighth, it is imperative we pick up every point possible, as the hunt for Champions League football will likely come down to the wire.

Everton will certainly be a tough opposition, but with Spurs’ class going forward, on paper at least, we should have enough to cut through the Toffees.

Hopefully Stellini can get his official managerial career with Tottenham off to a winning start and deliver a big three points in a must-win fixture.