Preview: Spurs welcome Everton to London on Saturday evening
By Matt Smith The Toffees have had a little more success on the pitch than Spurs so far this campaign, with David Moyes’ side currently unbeaten in the Premier League. De Zerbi hasn’t faced many sides since taking charge of Tottenham, but he has come up against Everton, facing the Merseyside club on the final day of the 2025/2026 season to keep Spurs in the league. Tottenham defeated Everton by a single goal through João Palhinha to ensure they remained a Premier League side heading into this season. Team news De Zerbi confirmed when speaking to the media ahead of their game against Everton that both Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will be assessed. Porro felt a ‘small muscular problem’, while Udogie is in a similar situation, with De Zerbi claiming that he doesn’t want to take any risks. Mykhailo Mudryk will also miss out after picking up a recent injury, while Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski, and Wilson Odobert remain sidelined. There is just one injury concern for Everton heading into their trip down to London. Christian Nørgaard, who is yet to feature for the Toffees since joining from Arsenal, remains out injured. Creativity the key issue for Spurs Tottenham spent significantly during the summer transfer window to transform their whole squad, reaching double figures for incoming players. One aspect of their game they haven’t seemingly sorted is their creativity, with Tottenham still searching for their first goal of the campaign. Spurs have created just 2.8 xG in the Premier League so far, with only Aston Villa and Hull City managing fewer. When the likes of Simons, Kulusevski, and James Maddison return to the starting eleven, De Zerbi will be hoping that can increase drastically. Moyes’ high pressing Everton A key reason behind Everton’s early success in the Premier League this season is their ability to win the ball high up the pitch. This has been a primary route of chance creation for Moyes’ side, while also making it difficult for the opposition to play out from the back. The Toffees have one possession in the final third 6.3 times per game so far, with no side managing more. De Zerbi prefers his side to play from the back and take risks, so it could be an opportunity for Everton to cause some problems.
By Matt Smith
The Toffees have had a little more success on the pitch than Spurs so far this campaign, with David Moyes’ side currently unbeaten in the Premier League.
De Zerbi hasn’t faced many sides since taking charge of Tottenham, but he has come up against Everton, facing the Merseyside club on the final day of the 2025/2026 season to keep Spurs in the league.
Tottenham defeated Everton by a single goal through João Palhinha to ensure they remained a Premier League side heading into this season.
Team news
De Zerbi confirmed when speaking to the media ahead of their game against Everton that both Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will be assessed. Porro felt a ‘small muscular problem’, while Udogie is in a similar situation, with De Zerbi claiming that he doesn’t want to take any risks.
Mykhailo Mudryk will also miss out after picking up a recent injury, while Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski, and Wilson Odobert remain sidelined.
There is just one injury concern for Everton heading into their trip down to London. Christian Nørgaard, who is yet to feature for the Toffees since joining from Arsenal, remains out injured.
Creativity the key issue for Spurs
Tottenham spent significantly during the summer transfer window to transform their whole squad, reaching double figures for incoming players. One aspect of their game they haven’t seemingly sorted is their creativity, with Tottenham still searching for their first goal of the campaign.
Spurs have created just 2.8 xG in the Premier League so far, with only Aston Villa and Hull City managing fewer. When the likes of Simons, Kulusevski, and James Maddison return to the starting eleven, De Zerbi will be hoping that can increase drastically.
Moyes’ high pressing Everton
A key reason behind Everton’s early success in the Premier League this season is their ability to win the ball high up the pitch. This has been a primary route of chance creation for Moyes’ side, while also making it difficult for the opposition to play out from the back.
The Toffees have one possession in the final third 6.3 times per game so far, with no side managing more. De Zerbi prefers his side to play from the back and take risks, so it could be an opportunity for Everton to cause some problems.
A start for Jack Grealish?
Moyes hinted during his press conference that Everton winger Jack Grealish could make his first start for the club since returning on loan from Manchester City. The English winger played a crucial role for the Toffees last season before suffering an injury, and having him back in the starting XI will be a huge boost for Everton.
Grealish was Everton’s main source of creativity last season before his injury, and they’ll need that added firepower in attack after Iliman Ndiaye left the club.
Prediction
We’re going for a 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, physical metrics, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.