Tottenham vs Everton Preview: Team News, Injuries and 1-1 Prediction

Tottenham vs Everton: Spurs Still Without a Goal as Unbeaten Everton Visit

Tottenham Hotspur welcome Everton to north London on Saturday with Roberto De Zerbi's side still searching for their first Premier League goal of the season. Spurs sit in the bottom three on one point, while David Moyes' unbeaten Everton arrive in eighth place.

Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton, Premier League
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, north London
Tottenham form: Two defeats, one draw, zero goals scored, bottom three
Everton form: Unbeaten, eighth in the table, late equalisers against Bournemouth and Manchester United
Key absences: Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and James Maddison out for Spurs; Christian Norgaard out until October for Everton
Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Everton

Injury and availability

Tottenham's attacking options are severely limited. Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert all remain out, while James Maddison has suffered a shoulder setback at precisely the moment De Zerbi needed his creativity.

Mykhaylo Mudryk returned after more than 600 days out in the goalless draw at Nottingham Forest, only to pick up an ankle injury. He is expected to miss another month — a setback that sums up Tottenham's start to the campaign.

On a brighter note, Mohammed Kudus has got minutes off the bench in each of the last two league games and could be handed a first start.

For Everton, Christian Norgaard remains unavailable until October. James Garner went off in the draw with Manchester United and his fitness is in question, which may force Moyes into a midfield reshuffle.

Selection notes

De Zerbi's clearest decision surrounds Mohammed Kudus. Spurs have lacked thrust and unpredictability in the final third, and the forward offers both. After two substitute appearances, this looks like the moment to throw him in from the start.

Moyes has a decision of his own. Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored the spectacular late equaliser at Old Trafford and has put himself firmly in the conversation to start. If Garner is unavailable, Moyes may not have much choice anyway.

Out wide, Jack Grealish is an option to replace Brennan Johnson. Everton still have holes to manage, but Moyes has them organised and competitive.

The numbers

Tottenham have scored zero goals in three Premier League games this season.
Spurs have taken one point from a possible nine, losing to Brentford and Newcastle before drawing 0-0 at Nottingham Forest.
Everton are eighth and unbeaten after beating Crystal Palace, then drawing 1-1 with Bournemouth and 2-2 with Manchester United.
Tottenham have won the last five meetings between the sides in this fixture.
Everton have won just one of their last 17 visits to Spurs.
Both clubs sit in the bottom four of the Premier League Fair Play table.
There were five yellow cards in this fixture last season.
Mykhaylo Mudryk returned after more than 600 days out in the draw at Forest.

Why Tottenham's goal drought is the whole story

Tottenham's problem is not one of effort or intent. It is that De Zerbi's side are not creating enough chances, and when they do carve something out, they are not finishing it. Money has been spent, expectations were raised, and the return so far is two defeats, one draw and a place in the bottom three. The 0-0 at Nottingham Forest stopped the immediate bleeding, but it did not solve anything.

The absence of Kulusevski, Simons, Odobert and Maddison strips the team of its most reliable sources of craft. Tottenham need someone willing to run at defenders and make something happen out of nothing. That is exactly why Kudus is the obvious call from the start. He offers thrust and unpredictability, and Spurs have lacked both.

Everton, by contrast, know precisely what they are. They have not been free-flowing, but they have been difficult to put away — and that matters. The late equalisers against Bournemouth and Manchester United were not accidents; they were the product of a side that hangs around in games until something drops. Spurs may edge possession, they may even create more, but confidence is a genuine issue when the first goal of the season still has not arrived. The pattern points to a tight, awkward afternoon.

Talking points

Should De Zerbi start Mohammed Kudus, or does throwing him in against Everton's organised block risk isolating him in a struggling attack?
Is Everton's unbeaten start proof that Moyes' pragmatic approach is working, or are late equalisers masking a side that cannot control matches?
Tottenham have won the last five meetings and Everton have one win in 17 visits — does history matter when current form is this stark?
With both clubs in the bottom four of the Fair Play table, will referee Darren England be the busiest man at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

What happens next

Three points would lift Tottenham out of the bottom three and, more importantly, put a first goal on the board. Defeat or another blank would deepen the pressure on De Zerbi heading into the next international break. For Everton, victory would extend an unbeaten start and keep Moyes' side in the top half as the fixtures begin to pile up.

Frequently asked questions

Is James Maddison playing for Tottenham vs Everton?

No. James Maddison has suffered a shoulder setback and is out.

Who is injured for Tottenham vs Everton?

Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and James Maddison remain out, while Mykhaylo Mudryk is expected to miss another month with an ankle injury.