Tottenham Hotspur v Everton: Spurs Seek First League Win as Goals Dwindle
Tottenham Hotspur return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday with an uncomfortable reality staring them in the face: three games gone, no Premier League wins on the board, and a manager under pressure to stop a worrying slide.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side sit 18th after taking just a single point from their opening three fixtures. The table doesn’t flatter them. Nor does the form book. A repeat of last weekend’s goalless stalemate at Forest would not only deepen the gloom, it would also leave Spurs without a league goal in four consecutive matches for the first time in the club’s history.
That is the kind of unwanted landmark that lingers.
The one sliver of comfort? Their only win and only clean sheet in their last 12 top-flight home games came against the very visitors they face this weekend. Everton know this ground can turn hostile for the home side; Spurs will hope that specific memory offers something to cling to.
Maddison doubt, Mudryk blow
De Zerbi’s preparations have been complicated by a squad that still isn’t close to full strength.
James Maddison trained before the trip to Forest but did not make the squad, and he remains a doubt with the shoulder injury he picked up in the opening-day defeat to Brentford. His absence strips Spurs of a key creative spark in central areas, exactly what a misfiring attack is crying out for.
Out wide, the situation is no brighter. Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are all still working their way back from knee injuries. None are expected to be thrown straight back into the starting XI.
Then came the latest setback. Mykhaylo Mudryk, who finally made his first competitive appearance in over 600 days against Forest, has suffered a fresh ankle injury. The winger is now ruled out for six to eight weeks, just as he seemed ready to re-establish himself as an option.
The pressure on the remaining forwards has just gone up another notch.
Savio, Tel and Kudus carry the attacking load
With so many attackers unavailable, De Zerbi is set to lean again on Savio and Mathys Tel in the wide roles. Both bring pace and direct running, both are still learning the league, and both will be asked to carry a heavy creative burden.
Behind them, Mohammed Kudus is being eased back after a lengthy spell out. The plan is clear: build his minutes, build his rhythm, and hope his power between the lines can jolt this team into life. For now, though, Spurs must manage his workload carefully.
It leaves the structure of the side fairly predictable, but the execution has to change. Spurs need movement around the box, quicker combinations and, above all, someone to take responsibility in front of goal.
Predicted Tottenham Hotspur XI
De Zerbi is expected to stick with a 4-2-3-1 shape:
Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Robertson; Tonali, Bentancur; Savio, Fernandes, Tel; Solanke.
Sandro Tonali and Rodrigo Bentancur should anchor midfield, tasked with controlling the tempo and feeding the three behind Dominic Solanke. The striker, still searching for rhythm himself, may not get many better opportunities to kick-start his season than against an Everton side that has often struggled away to the division’s bigger clubs.
If this team sheet looks familiar, that is part of the problem. Injuries have locked De Zerbi into a narrow set of choices. The solution has to come from within that group.
Kick-off and TV details
The Premier League clash gets underway at 17:30 on Saturday, 12 September 2026, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In the UK, the match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event.
Spurs are already chasing, the table already unforgiving. With the crowd restless and the goals drying up, how long can this team afford to wait for a spark?
