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Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton

Lyndon Lloyd , 11 January, 26comments  |  Jump to most recent
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The fixtures have been coming thick and fast for Everton since Christmas and with that increased congestion in the calendar has come a glut of injuries that again has David Moyes down to the bare bones of what is already an uncomfortably small squad.

Hardly ideal circumstances in which to visit Tottenham Hotspur who are on the kind of run that they haven't enjoyed in the top flight for 50 years — indeed victory for them would draw them level on points with Manchester United in second place in the Premier League. Spurs have won 13 of their 19 League games so far and are certainly in the kind of groove that makes this a daunting prospect for an Everton side that is struggling for form, confidence and, most importantly, goals.

Phil Jagielka heads the list of those players who are either certainly or potentially ruled out of the trip to White Hart Lane. The defender is out until the end of February at least and he is joined on the sidelines by Leon Osman (knee), Ross Barkley (knee), Jack Rodwell (hamstring), Tim Cahill (groin) and Tony Hibbert (groin), with Seamus Coleman, who suffered a recurrence of his thigh strain against Tamworth on Saturday, also highly doubtful.

That would leave Moyes with few options, particularly in a defence shorn of Hibbert and Coleman. Phil Neville — he'll be matched up again with Gareth Bale — and Leighton Baines would be obvious choices at full-back while Sylvain Distin and John Heitinga are the likely candidates to continue in the centre. Shane Duffy is an option, however, that would allow the Dutchman to fill a gaping hole in central midfield.

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Marouane Fellaini is, thankfully, fit again but with Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and James McFadden so disappointing in the cup at the weekend, there are no obvious candidates to partner him unless Heitinga does move forward again. Landon Donovan is in line for this third appearance since returning on loan from LA Galaxy, while Royston Drenthe could be deployed on the left flank in what might a more attacking line-up than the manager would be comfortable with,

Up front, with Cahill out it's probable that Moyes will perm two from Louis Saha, Victor Anichebe and Denis Stracqualursi, with Apostolos Vellios seemingly frozen out of contention despite netting three goals so far this campaign.

It has been Moyes's wont to try and contain the better sides on their own ground and hope to grab something from a set-piece. That strategy may get punished by Spurs in the same way that the Blues were undone by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Three points would provide a massive shot in the arm and, with the old adage of "it's 11 v 11 on the day" in mind, it's by no means impossible but, under the circumstances, a point from this rearranged fixture would be an excellent result.

Lyndon Lloyd

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