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Tottenham vs Everton Pre-Match Analysis: De Zerbi’s side fight for survival

Tottenham Hotspur missed the chance to secure Premier League safety in midweek, losing 2-1 at London rivals Chelsea.

On a night where their closest geographical rivals in Arsenal claimed their first league title in 22 years, Spurs still face the very real possibility of relegation.

They do only need a point to survive so it is in their own hands but, after that midweek defeat, West Ham have been given the chance to stay up in place of Spurs.

As it is the last day of the season, both games kick-off at the same time with **West Ham**hosting Leeds United.

Everton are the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and David Moyes' side suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Sunderland last weekend.

Nonetheless, it has been a successful season for the Toffees, who are in 12th place. They themselves narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of a season not too long ago and Spurs will be looking to do the same.

When the sides met in Liverpool, earlier in the season, Spurs beat their opponents 3-0, with Micky van de Ven scoring twice.

For Spurs fans, it is likely that the match in October will feel like a long time ago.

It now all comes down to this meeting on the final day.

It is like a cup final

Describing games as cup finals may be an overused statement in football but for Spurs this will feel like a final.

It is a one-off game where survival is on the line.

From a neutral point of view, it is the perfect set-up but for supporters of the teams involved it could be a tense afternoon.

Spurs do have the advantage that they only need a point and they are also playing an Everton side who has little to play for.

However, if news breaks that the Hammers have netted an early goal then the pressure intensifies.

The consequences of relegation cannot be understated and Spurs dropping to the Championship may still seem hard to imagine, but it is still a possibility.

An early Spurs goal would likely help calm some of the nerves inside the stadium.

A year on from an actual final appearance

A year ago this week, Spurs were celebrating lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy and there was a hope that they would kick on from that moment and be competing for other honours.

Instead, they could not be further away from that.

However, there may be some aspects from the run to that final and the performance that led them to the trophy that they can use this weekend.

They did not necessarily play well in the final in Bilbao against Manchester United but they got the 1-0 win and ended their long wait for a trophy.

To win games of that magnitude, in a one-off match, it is not always about playing the most exciting football or showing all of your qualities but is about the result.

Inevitably, the circumstances are different this weekend but it is also about handling the pressure and the mental side of the game, as it was in Bilbao.

Spurs do not have to play free-flowing attacking football to stay up.

They do not even have to win the game due to their superior goal difference.

If Leeds beat West Ham then the result in north London is of no significance but Spurs cannot approach the game like that.

They have a job to do and Roberto De Zerbi's side will be going out with the intention to win the game, knowing that they cannot control what happens at the London Stadium.

The pressure is on but it is down to the players to deliver.

Is playing at home helpful?

Spurs have only won two games at home all season and that is not a statistic that makes good reading.

In their last two home games, it has improved slightly with draws against Brighton and Leeds but they have not recorded a home league win since early December.

In front of their home fans, this is not a game where the players can hide.

There will likely be a good atmosphere inside the ground but supporters will likely be expecting and hoping that this translates to a positive result.

That has not always been the case this season, when the atmosphere was impressive before their league match with once rivals for relegation Nottingham Forest, yet Spurs lost 3-0.

Spurs could be boosted by the return of striker Dominic Solanke, who has been injured since the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in April.

He has found life difficult at Spurs but could be the man to make the difference this week.

James Maddison has returned from injury in recent weeks and has featured in recent games.

It is very unlikely that Maddison will play from the start but he is a quality player and has the potential to have an impact on the game.

Spurs have missed him this season and they have been unfortunate with some of their injuries.

Maddison is a big personality and his character and attitude could be exactly what De Zerbi's side need against Everton. He is not a player who will shy away from the big moments and could step up if required later in the game.

Regardless of the injuries and the pressure of the game, De Zerbi will not want any excuses.

Everyone knows what is at stake.

Spurs have a chance to stay up and look ahead to next season in a more positive way. They will never want to be in this position again as they have been living dangerously and there could still be the dreaded drop to come.

They have the advantage on the final day but it all comes down to ninety minutes of football in north London and also in east London.

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