Everton prepare to travel to London this week in hopes of continuing their league run of form against Tottenham. Tottenham have won two on the bounce, can we end their streak?
Everton rewind!
Everton met Fulham in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup but as you know, it did not go to plan. Everton were missing a few key players such as Doucoure, Coleman, and Mykolenko. Dyche would make changes accordingly but it would prove unfruitful.
The game would start out as a complete bore for the opening 24 minutes but then it would come alive. Everton were on the front foot delivering early balls and decent long balls into Fulham’s 18 yard box. McNeil and Branthwaite would have a few decent looks but couldn’t convert them for anything of value.
In the 40th minute, Fulham would find the back of the net against the run of play. The goal would come off of Michael Keane but originally was deflected off of Patterson into Keane and eventually into the back of the net. Everton would push for an equalizer for the rest of the game and finally find one in the 82nd minute. A crazy series of deflected shots and clearances eventually found Beto around the six yard box where he headed it past Leno to draw the game level.
We looked the better team for a majority of the game and even in the seven minutes of added time. To penalty kicks we go! Everton would score their first four penalty kicks and only need Amadou Onana to slot his attempt home in order to advance to the Semi Finals. Onana would take a very terrible attempt which was easily saved by a collapsing Leno.
From that moment on the momentum changed, having Gana miss his PK which put Fulham in the driver’s seat where they drove to the Semi finals. People look to blame Onana but Pickford got a hand or finger tips to 5 of the 7 Fulham penalty kicks… he ought to do better.
Tottenham Vs. Nottingham Forest
Tottenham would take all three points off of a Steve Cooperless Forest with ease. Forest never grew into the game during the entire match and never showed that they were going to compete. Tottenham had 68% possession and put 50% of their shots on target. In the 45th minute, our old flame, Richarlison would score a very richy-esque goal (a flicked header, just enough to place it out of reach of the keeper)
Forest would be on the back foot until the second goal from Kulusevski. A gift of a goal from Matt Turner. Turner fails to clear a ball and the short clearance lands at the feet of a masked Kulusevski. Kulusevski takes his space into the box, creating space from a defender and hitting Turner directly in his hands…where he deflected the ball upwards into the net.
Not much would happen for the rest of the match except a red card that was issued to Bissouma, his second red card this year. He will serve a four-match ban for his infraction.
Everton key player
Mykolenko will be welcomed back into the lineup after coming off of a groin injury. With Branthwaite having to fill in at LB against Fulham, it really shows how thin we are at the position and how much we truly need a player of his caliber back.
Mykolenko is in the 90th percentile for the following stats, tackles, blocks, interceptions,clearances and aerials won. Not many defenders can say that they are elite in all of those categories but Myko can! Mykolenko is considered “lock-down”. Whoever is on his side ends up in his pocket. With Myko back healthy, Dyche can move JB back to center back alongside Tarky and get back to the winning ways we have come to know.
Tottenham key player
Son Heung-min, he is one of the top five players in the league in my opinion. He is the Spurs’ talisman and is by far one of the best talents we have seen for decades. Son has tallied 10 goals and 4 assists through 17 appearances.
Fun fact! Son has an xG of 0.88 per 90 when he plays at home, and is in the upper echelon of key passes per 90 within the league. He is in the 99th percentile for shots on target. Yes, based off of stats he’s very dangerous and will be a problem, but we have all seen him play multiple times… he is a serious player off the ball as well, he causes chaos for defenses.
Final thoughts!
With the stress of the Carabao Cup gone we can finally focus on the league only. We have some players returning from injury and have seen some players earn minutes that maybe should be earning more! I hope to see Danjuma and Beto make a cameo or even start, they made a huge impact on Tuesday and deserve more opportunities.
A win against Spurs away from home would be an early Christmas gift… and prepare us for possible points dropped at City. Regardless, we have a fighting spirit back in the team, no game is out of reach for us. UTFT!
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