Opposition in focus: What Everton should expect from Tottenham

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Right, here we are. The 2025-26 season is coming to an end and, officially, Everton have nothing to play for when it comes to their own aspirations, other than restoring some pride, trying to ensure the season does not end with a winless run of seven games, and hopefully finishing in the top half.

To do that, Everton will need to beat Tottenham, and for Spurs, Sunday’s game has a lot more riding on it. It’s nice, at least, to have the shoe on the other foot heading into a final-day relegation decider.

Spurs know a draw will be enough to keep them up but, if they lose and West Ham beat Leeds United, then the most shocking relegation in Premier League history is on the cards.

And wouldn’t it be nice to send one of the “Big 6” down?

So, what can we expect from Spurs?

LAST TIME OUT

Spurs lost 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday — it was that win for the Blues that officially ended Everton’s European ambitions, albeit last week’s defeat to Sunderland was really the final nail in the coffin.

Roberto De Zerbi’s team went into that game knowing a draw would be enough to secure their Premier League status, given their far superior goal difference compared to West Ham.

But, as they did against Leeds at home in their previous match, Spurs simply bottled it. When the pressure is on, this team simply has not had the mettle to get the results they have needed to avoid this scrap going to the final day.

Spurs started brightly, but fell behind to Enzo Fernandez’s strike and went 2-0 down midway through the second half. However, that man Richarlison pulled one back to set up a grandstand finale. James Maddison came on and created plenty of threat, but Chelsea held out.

SPURS’ FORM

Spurs have played six games under Roberto De Zerbi:

12 April: Sunderland 1-0 Spurs18 April: Spurs 2-2 Brighton25 April: Wolves 0-1 Spurs3 May: Aston Villa 1-2 Spurs11 May: Spurs 1-1 Leeds19 May: Chelsea 2-1 Spurs

ONE TO WATCH: Richarlison

Richarlison has come in for so much stick in his time at Spurs, mostly from pundits, albeit from some of their fans, too.

Well, he’s their leading scorer this season, and frankly, whenever he has been fit and playing across his time at the club, has been one of their best performers.

He also has a horrid habit of scoring — or at the very least being involved in a goal — against Everton.

Since he joined Spurs in 2022, Richarlison has scored four league goals in six league games against the Toffees. In fact, he only has more goal involvements for Spurs in the competition against Liverpool (6) than he does Everton (5).

WHAT CAN EVERTON TARGET?

Fear. Panic. Stress.

We can all remember what it was like when Bournemouth rocked up to Everton on the final day of 2022-23. The Cherries had nothing to play for and Everton, like Spurs, needed to win to be absolutely sure of safety.

It took an Abdoulaye Doucoure screamer, plus a vital save late on from Jordan Pickford, for Everton to get over the line.

David Moyes must urge his men to play on that fear and the tension in the crowd, especially if news begins to drift in that West Ham are ahead — then the pressure is really on.

Spurs haven’t won a home league game since December 6. And Moyes really needs a positive performance, or the heat will really be on from the fans this summer.

The late, great Vialli said, after managing a Chelsea side that beat Bolton in their last game of the season. A result that kept Everton up, as we could only draw with the mighty Coventry at home. Chelsea had nothing riding on the match.

He said We had a responsibility not only to ourselves and our fans to give of our best and win the match. We also had a responsibility, to Everton and the integrity of the competition, to give of our best.

My memory is not all it was but I have a vague recollection, of Everton playing an away game on the last day of the season, when the team we were playing, needed to win to stay up. If they lost or drew with us and another team won, their match, they would go down. Everton turned up with their flip flops on and lost. It was a shameful performance. I hope someone out there can let me know the fixture I'm trying to remember, If we do that again on Sunday I'll be angry and totally embarrassed. Everton and West Ham deserve better.

Christy Ring 2 Posted 21/05/2026 at 17:33:21

I reckon Richarlison will be shaking in his boots at the thought’s of facing Tarkowski & Keane.

Kevin Molloy 3 Posted 21/05/2026 at 17:36:15

I loved the way Chelsea, whipping boys extraordinaire, dragged their sorry asses off the canvas to send a message to their cockney cousins in their desperate hour of need. 'Please can you help us!' came the cry from North London'. 'Fck. You'. came the reply,

Liam Mogan 4 Posted 21/05/2026 at 17:36:35

Such a shame that this season of being 'happily dissatisfied' and fantastic progress is ending

Sean Mitchell 5 Posted 21/05/2026 at 17:37:39

No spygate needed from Spurs.

John Collins 6 Posted 21/05/2026 at 17:49:36

I posted similar a while back Sean

Monday morning at any of 19 Premiership clubs.

"Right lads,it's Everton at the weekend. Here is their team line up. Here is thier formation. The chart shows the near enough exact minute subs will be used. In brackets are the players who will be subbed, and the player who will come on as sub'

Dave Lynch 7 Posted 21/05/2026 at 18:28:49

I know a few WHU lads through numerous years of nursing and match fishing round the country, one in particular is a good buddy.

My fear is we will capitulate and I won't be able to look him in the face again.

If Moyes has anything about him he'll be revving the team up as WHU are pert of his history and the only team he's ever won anything remotely resembling a decent trophy.

I don't hold out much hope.

Dale Self 8 Posted 21/05/2026 at 18:31:13

Nice Jack, oh to have a striker like Gianluca Vialli.

Andrew Clare 9 Posted 21/05/2026 at 18:44:21

Spurs will give us the runaround. Guaranteed.

Nick White 10 Posted 21/05/2026 at 18:49:27

Put money on Richy scoring!

John Collins 11 Posted 21/05/2026 at 19:08:43

Just had a text,not sure if it's correct if anyone knows. If Gana plays one more game this season his one year contract extension becomes obligatory.

He's developed an injury before the weekends game.

Michael Kenrick 12 Posted 21/05/2026 at 22:07:51

According to a report from The Athletic's David Ornstein, Tottenham defender Djed Spence suffered a broken jaw after a collision with Liam Delap last weekend.

Spence is expected to be available to face Everton on the final day of the Premier League season, although he's expected to wear a protective mask.

13 Posted 21/05/2026 at 22:57:12

With Michael Oliver as the Referee and Paul Tierney on VAR. It means Spurs can hassle us off the ball and we will get free kicks providing they are not in the goal area but no yellow cards will be given to them.

Moyes has put himself in a bind. He has to play Rohl, Dibling and ask Patterson to play while dropping Keane (shows his boss that he changes a losing team and gives players chances to shine).

But at least 4 of our players may be going to the World Cup and will not want to get injured to save Moyes's job.

Spurs may get some Oscars in this game. So we have to move the ball quickly so those 4 players don't get injured, and stop Spurs attacks before they reach the goal area.

As for corners why don't we put Barry 10 yards from the corner when one is being taken. This would interfere with the taker's view and maybe help us clear the ball out.

Team I think he will play includingsubs.

PickfordPatterson (Coleman) Tarkowski O'Brien MykolenkoIroegbunam (Armstrong) GarnerRohl (George) Dewsbury-Hall. Ndiaye (McNeil)Beto (Alcaraz)

Note this assumes Gueye is injured; otherwise, he will be picked instead of Tim.

Martin Berry 14 Posted 21/05/2026 at 23:00:36

I still have a feeling that Spurs will go down to an Everton win despite our sorry performance against Sunderland. Apart from Richarlison, Spurs just haven't got a goal scorer currently.

You can bet Moyes will want West Ham to stay up due to knowing the club and many players. He will have the team wound up to improve and be competitive as we have been in most away fixtures.

West Ham will beat Leeds as Leeds are safe and they won't be as competitive as recent weeks, that's just my feelings...

What I am loving about Sunday's fixtures is that were safe!! It's a nice feeling that you can sit back and not have to bite your nails down to your wrists.

Oliver Molloy 16 Posted 21/05/2026 at 00:55:05

Maybe another loss would have these owners asking questions of Moyes?

I hope so.

Sean Kearns 17 Posted 22/05/2026 at 01:29:45

Tottenham are shit and we are one of the best away teams in the league… I fancy us to win. Just need West Ham to do the business.

I'm going on a week-long bender if Spurs go down. Imagine the scenes… Don't forget they tried to join the Super League. Shady twats.

Steve Brown 18 Posted 22/05/2026 at 02:16:14

I know a few Spurs fans and, after 2 home wins in the league this season, they are panicking about this fixture.

Andy Meighan 19 Posted 22/05/2026 at 07:50:57

Oliver as ref, Spurs haven't had a penalty all season.

What could possibly go wrong.

If he lines up with the same back 4 we are beaten before we start.

Id love to see him change things, but realistically it's not happening, what a damp squid these last couple of months have been.

Mike Powell 20 Posted 22/05/2026 at 09:09:53

I'm glad the season is coming to an end, no more spoilt weekends... well not until next season.

Let's try ending on a bit of a high and send one of the Sky 6 down, or should I say Sly 6? But I think we will get beaten, especially if they play with their flip-flops on like they did against Sunderland.

I still can't get over how bad we were against the Mackems. Come on, Blues -- give us a bit of pride back!