Opposition Preview: Everton | OneFootball

On Sunday afternoon, Tottenham Hotspur will make, almost certainly, their last ever visit to Goodison Park, as they face Everton for match day 22. Let's take a look at what we can expect from our hosts for this game.

How Everton are shaping up ahead of the showdown on Sunday

Most of you will have seen that David Moyes has returned to Everton, nearly 12 years after leaving for Manchester United - replacing Sean Dyche after around two years in charge. It was not the fairytale first game in midweek, losing 1-0 at home to Aston Villa, but by all accounts it was an improved performance, and they really should have equalised in stoppage time.

Last season, Moyes took four points off Spurs, with a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and a draw at the London Stadium, whilst manager of West Ham United. He also took four points in the 20/21 season, and three in the 21/22 season.

In short, Everton are basically the opposite of Spurs. They are pretty solid defensively, whilst being absolutely horrendous going forwards. Most people see Southampton as one of the worst Premier League teams ever - they have scored 13 goals this season. Everton have only scored two more.

However, one thing to consider is set pieces. There is no doubt that is their most likely avenue of scoring - with the likes of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite to aim for. We see how Ange's side defend from set pieces. Luckily for Spurs, Dwight McNeil - their general set piece taker - is set to miss this game through injury.

Also set to miss the game for the Toffees; midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, strikers Youssef Chermiti and Armando Broja, and right-back Seamus Coleman. Clearly, McNeil is the biggest miss out of all those players.

The clear dangerman (at least excluding set pieces) is Pape Sarr's international team mate, Iliman Ndiaye. An incredibly skilled and gifted footballer, he is the least Everton player outside of anyone in the squad. He showed what he is capable of last month, when he scored with a sublime outside foot finish against Manchester City at the Etihad.

In midfield, another Senegalese international in Idrissa Gueye is the man who puts the fires out in that part of the pitch. That side of the ball, they are generally a fine team - Gueye wins the ball in midfield, Branthwaite and Tarkowski defend the box, and Jordan Pickford in goal has won them several points. It is just going forward where they are particularly blunt.

Spurs won the reverse fixture 4-0 back in August, but it really does not feel like this game will be like that. One player who played that day, that would have been key here is WIlson Odobert. Whilst Ashley Young has generally done a fine job for Everton, he is 39. Getting Odobert to run at him would have been exciting - something Heung-Min Son does less of in his 30's.

Having Richarlison back out there instead, against his former club - of whom he scored three goals against last season - may be the play on the left side. Only if he is 100% fit though. We know what he is like. Be careful.

This game stinks of a 1-1. Spurs to take the lead, Everton equalise from a set piece. Hope to be wrong. Let's see.