Tottenham’s Goal Drought Meets Everton’s Unbeaten Run

LONDON — Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi faces a critical tactical test of his possession-based system when his side hosts Everton in search of both its first victory and its first goal of the Premier League season.

Everton arrives in north London eighth in the Premier League table under manager David Moyes. The club opened the campaign with a victory over Crystal Palace, then drew with Bournemouth and Manchester United.

Tottenham has only one point after three matches and sits in the relegation zone. Back-to-back defeats against Brentford and Newcastle United left the north London club reeling before a scoreless draw at Nottingham Forest arrested the slide.

Moyes’ team secured points against Bournemouth and Manchester United through equalizers in the final minutes, demonstrating late-game resilience in both matches. Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored the late strike against Manchester United and could be in line for a starting role in midfield if James Garner is ruled unavailable after being forced off with an injury during the fixture.

The stalemate at Nottingham Forest did little to resolve Tottenham’s glaring lack of offensive production, while the adjustment to De Zerbi’s system has been complicated by a severe injury crisis. Attacking midfielder James Maddison is sidelined with a shoulder injury, alongside Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons, and winger Wilson Odobert.


Tottenham’s medical setbacks were also evident when Mykhaylo Mudryk returned at Nottingham Forest after more than 600 days on the sidelines. His comeback ended early because of an ankle injury, and he is expected to miss another month.

De Zerbi may respond by handing Mohammed Kudus his first start of the season. Kudus has appeared as a substitute in Tottenham’s last two fixtures and offers the directness and individual creativity needed to break down disciplined opponents.

Everton still has choices on the wings, with Jack Grealish available to replace Brennan Johnson. The club is managing other absences as well, including midfielder Christian Norgaard, who remains out of action until October. Supporter frustration regarding Everton’s summer transfer window acquisitions also lingers despite Moyes guiding the squad to an unbeaten start.

The historical record favors Spurs. Tottenham has won its last five home matches against Everton, while the Merseyside club has recorded only one victory in its last 17 visits to Tottenham.

Physicality and discipline could influence the match. Tottenham and Everton both rank in the bottom four of the Premier League’s Fair Play table, which tracks disciplinary infractions. Darren England, who issued five yellow cards during this exact fixture last season, has been appointed to officiate.