Tottenham vs Everton preview: Spurs face survival test on the final day

Tottenham’s season has come down to one final home match.

Spurs welcome Everton on Sunday afternoon knowing their Premier League status is still not fully secure. A point would remove any doubt and keep them in the division, but the fact they are in this position at all tells the story of a chaotic campaign.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side begin the final round two points above the bottom three after a damaging midweek defeat to Chelsea. That result left the door open for the teams below them and ensured the pressure would remain on until the very end.

For Tottenham, the concern is not only the table. It is the way the season has unfolded at home. They have not won any of their last 10 Premier League matches in north London and have managed only two league home victories all season. For a club with Tottenham’s expectations, that is the form of a side that has spent months inviting trouble.

Everton, by contrast, arrive without the same level of jeopardy. Their hopes of reaching Europe are over, and David Moyes’ team head into the final weekend with momentum lacking after six league games without a win. That does not make them harmless, though. It simply changes the nature of the contest. Spurs are the team carrying the weight.

Why this game matters so much for Tottenham

Tottenham should not need a final-day calculation to stay up, but that is where the season has led them. Their position above the relegation zone is fragile enough that anything less than a draw creates real anxiety.

The bigger issue is psychological. Home matches have become tense, hesitant occasions, and the numbers underline it. A 10-game home winless run in the league is severe by any standard, and it is one of the main reasons this fixture has become so significant.

There is also the question of leadership. Cristian Romero is expected to miss the match after returning to Argentina to continue his recovery with the national team medical staff ahead of the World Cup. De Zerbi defended the defender publicly, but his absence still strips Tottenham of one of their most forceful personalities for the biggest game of the domestic season.

Ben Davies, by contrast, has stayed close to the squad, and De Zerbi’s comments suggested he valued that decision. In a match likely to be shaped as much by composure as quality, those details matter.

Everton’s angle entering the finale

Everton’s season has lost its edge at the wrong time. The Toffees are winless in six Premier League matches and no longer have a European place to chase, a slide that has flattened what had looked like a promising push toward the top seven.

Still, Moyes has enough experience to know the value of finishing strongly, especially away from home against a nervous opponent. Everton may not have the same external pressure, but they do have a chance to spoil the day and expose a side that has struggled to handle expectation.

History offers Tottenham some comfort here. Spurs won the reverse fixture 3-0 earlier in the season and are trying to complete their first league double over Everton since 2017-18. They have also won their last four home league games against the Merseyside club by a combined score of 13-1.

That said, this Tottenham team has made historical trends feel less reliable than usual. Their record in this matchup is strong, but their current form has repeatedly undercut any sense of certainty.

Team news

Tottenham could be boosted by the return of Guglielmo Vicario and Dominic Solanke after recent injury absences.

Djed Spence suffered a broken jaw against Chelsea but could still be available if he is cleared to play in a protective mask.

Richarlison is expected to start against his former club and remains an important figure in the final third after delivering 15 Premier League goal involvements this season.

James Maddison is still building fitness after a long-term knee injury and could again be used from the bench.

Romero is set to miss out, which leaves Tottenham without one of their senior defenders at the most delicate point of the campaign.

For Everton, Idrissa Gueye could return after a short absence. Moyes selected an unchanged side in the recent defeat to Sunderland and may be reluctant to make sweeping changes for the final game.

Predicted line-ups

Tottenham are expected to line up with Vicario in goal and a back four of Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie. In midfield, Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur could anchor the side, with Conor Gallagher operating ahead of them. Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel are options in support of Richarlison.

Everton are likely to start Jordan Pickford behind a defence of Jake O’Brien, Michael Keane, James Tarkowski and Vitalii Mykolenko. Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner could form the midfield base, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil supporting Beto.

Key tactical questions

Can Tottenham cope with the occasion?

This is the central issue. Spurs have enough individual quality to win the game, but their recent home performances suggest a side playing with tension rather than authority. If the crowd turns anxious or the first goal does not come, the game could become awkward very quickly.

Will Everton sit in or press the nerves?

Moyes has options. Everton can stay compact, force Tottenham to build through pressure and wait for mistakes, or they can press early and test a defence missing one of its leaders. Against a side that has struggled for rhythm at home, either route has potential.

Richarlison’s role against his old club

Richarlison’s edge and directness may be vital. Tottenham need someone willing to attack the box, engage centre-backs and turn possession into shots. Against former teammates, he also carries the kind of emotional intensity that often defines final-day fixtures.

Stats that shape the match

• Tottenham need at least a point to guarantee Premier League survival.
• Spurs are winless in their last 10 home league matches.
• Tottenham have won the last four home league meetings with Everton.
• The aggregate score across those four Spurs home wins over Everton is 13-1.
• Everton are without a win in their last six Premier League matches.
• Tottenham won the reverse fixture 3-0 earlier this season.

How to watch Tottenham vs Everton

The match kicks off at 4:00pm BST on Sunday.

It will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports, with streaming available through NOW TV.

Prediction

This does not feel like a clean or confident Tottenham performance. Their home form has been too poor for that, and the stakes are too high for the game to settle easily.

But Everton have faded in recent weeks, and Tottenham’s record in this fixture remains strong enough to suggest they can find a way through. If Richarlison and the supporting attackers make the most of their moments, Spurs should have just enough.

Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Everton

Final word

There are final-day matches played for titles, Europe and records. Tottenham’s final assignment is more basic and more uncomfortable: survive.

That reality alone makes this one of the most telling games of their season. A club with Spurs’ resources and ambition should never be treating a home game against a mid-table Everton side as a rescue mission. Yet here they are.

Now they need the point, or perhaps all three, to make sure this difficult season does not tip into disaster.