Everton v Tottenham predictions: Goals look likely in Goodison Park clash

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Everton v Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Friday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 8pm, Friday

Best bet

Over 2.5 goals
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Team news

Everton
Dominic Calvert-Lewin could return from his abductor problem and Jordan Pickford could be back in goal

Tottenham
Ben Davies and Matt Doherty are still ruled out but Jose Mourinho could make several changes

Match preview

Everton and Tottenham still have faint hopes of gaining a place in next season's Champions League, but they are not far from being read the last rites and defeat for either at Goodison Park could prove a lethal blow.

Neither team's recent form does much to support their case for pitting their wits against Europe's elite and they are limping towards the end of a campaign that at one stage or another looked quite rosy.

Memories of Everton topping the league in its embryonic stages or of Spurs being at the summit as the Christmas decorations were going up seem distant.

It seems Tottenham's fortunes have grabbed more headlines while Everton's have perhaps been graver.

The Toffees go into Friday's showdown with a miserable home record.

They have kept just one clean sheet in their last ten matches on their own patch and that 1-0 victory over Southampton was the only time they claimed three points during that run.

A goalless draw at Brighton on Monday was just the second point Carlo Ancelotti's men have earned in their last five games.

Add the fact that Spurs are unbeaten in their last seven visits to the blue half of Merseyside and there is a strong argument for an away win.

The problem is that Jose Mourinho's side cannot be trusted.

Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son carry a great goal threat, Lucas Moura has looked sharp in fits and starts, and the return of Giovani Lo Celso from injury should provide some creativity.

But their defending has been calamitous and the forwards cannot persistently drag Spurs out of trouble given they have conceded at least twice in four of their last six games.

The sight of Eric Dier and Davison Sanchez on the team sheet could be regarded as enough reason to reach for the lay button.

Everton have looked blunt, and no team in the top half of the Premier League have scored fewer than their tally of 41 goals.

But the combination of potentially bright forwards and poor defences that caused the teams to share nine goals in the FA Cup earlier in the campaign remains.

It may not be as mad as that night in February, when Everton ran out 5-4 winners over Spurs at Goodison, but there could be a few goals as it is hard to place much faith in either team collecting those vital points.

Key stat

Seven of Tottenham's last nine matches have featured at least three goals.

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