Wednesday’s loss to Arsenal was neither unexpected nor unusual. Tottenham Hotspur is now winless in its past five league fixtures and has lost six of its last eight. Even after witnessing this kind of slump week after week, it remains difficult to grasp how things have spiraled so drastically. As a result, Spurs enter the weekend tied for 14th place, just eight points clear of the relegation zone.
While the odds of Tottenham actually being drawn into a relegation battle are minimal, Everton finds itself well within the fray. The Toffees have finished between 15th and 17th in each of the past three seasons and are entrenched in the same territory this year. Once combatants for Europa League qualification, Sunday’s fixture now features two clubs far removed from the country’s top sides.
Everton (16th, 17pts) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (14th, 24pts)
Date: Sunday, January 19
Time: 9:00 am ET, 2:00 pm UK
Location: Goodison Park, Liverpool
TV: USA Network (US), Sky Sports Main Event (UK)
Everton’s form is on par with Spurs’, with three consecutive league losses following a run of three consecutive draws, though those points were split with Arsenal, Chelsea, and City. These six fixtures had a combined score line of 1-5, indicating little action on either end of the pitch. The Toffees did pick up a win in the FA Cup last week, however, over Peterborough United, who sits near the bottom of the League One table.
Tottenham’s 4-0 win in the reverse fixture back in August feels like a distant anomaly. Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero, and Heung-min Son (twice) found the net, but that would be the only victory from the season’s first four weeks. The two sides now meet at Goodison Park, where Spurs have not won since December 2018. The scorers that day? Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Son, and Harry Kane.
Bottoming out
All that truly matters this season, aside from steering clear of relegation, are the cup competitions, where Tottenham still has a real chance to succeed. No individual league fixture holds significant weight at this point, and none should take precedence over the Europa League or other cup campaigns. However, Ange Postecoglou, and really the entire organization, is getting dangerously close to a point where the vibes may become irreparable.
A match against a struggling team like Everton, who sits even lower in the table than Tottenham, must not be another missed opportunity. Spurs have already stumbled against the league’s worst multiple times this season, but failing to capitalize here would be a disaster given the context. Everton’s attack has managed just one goal in the last six matches — find a way to bag a goal or two, play some defense, and prevent their season from sinking further into despair.
Futureee
One silver lining of this tumultuous season has been the emergence of Tottenham’s younger talents. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have exceeded expectations for teenagers, particularly given the challenging environment around them. Antonin Kinsky and Radu Dragusin are showing potential as well, while Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr continue to impress in their early 20s. These players are poised to form the core of the club’s future, and giving them meaningful minutes now is hugely beneficial.
At times, injuries have forced these players into action, but they have often looked like some of the best options regardless of availability. Even if that is not the case, the Premier League fixtures are where Postecoglou should be deploying the youth from here on out. Bergvall, in particular, stands out as a key player to watch. Everton will be disciplined in defense — allowing under a goal per match over the past six — and while making Bergvall responsible for unlocking the attack is a tall order, he has shown as much intent as anyone with the ball. It might seem unfair to put this burden on him, but nothing is really going to plan this season anyway.