Everton travel down to Tottenham this weekend in the Premier League as David Moyes' men look to continue their unbeaten run.
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Everton have two strengths they should lean into at Tottenham: set pieces and winning the ball high.
The set-piece numbers are difficult to ignore. Everton have scored two goals from set pieces, generating 1.1 xG. Tottenham have conceded two, with 1.6 xG conceded. That is an area Everton should deliberately target. Then there is the press.
Everton are currently joint-top in the Premier League for possessions won in the final third, recovering the ball 6.3 times per 90.
That gives David Moyes' side a platform to play higher up the pitch and attack before opponents can settle.
But the press cannot come at the expense of the rest of the team. Everton's recent performances have shown how quickly that aggression can leave gaps when the distances become too large, particularly around the full-backs.
So this is not about pressing for the sake of pressing. It is about picking the right moments, winning the ball in dangerous areas and having enough players connected to make the turnover count. Add Everton's set-piece threat to that and there is a clear route into the game.
Win territory. Attack dead balls. Press with purpose. Stay connected.
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The Problem on the Right
Everton’s full-backs could be the key defensive battleground.
Everton were exposed against Manchester United, with the right side targeted more consistently, as Marcus Rashford repeatedly exposed positional issues around Merlin Röhl. Bryan Mbeumo’s goal and Benjamin Šeško’s late header showed two different ways United could exploit the space around Everton’s full-back. That matters against Tottenham.
Sávio, Omar Marmoush and Mathys Tel are beginning to develop an understanding in the final third, with movement between the wide areas and central spaces. Spurs have yet to turn that into goals, but Everton cannot give them the time and space to develop those combinations.
For Moyes, the instruction should be clear: the winger has to defend the flank.
Action Images via Reuters
Action Images via Reuters
If Tyrique George starts on the right, his attacking threat is valuable, but his work without the ball becomes just as important. Moyes could also strengthen the position behind him by selecting Jake O’Brien at right-back, giving Everton greater defensive security on that side.
Everton don’t need to defend deeper. They need to protect the space around the full-back. If Spurs are going to attack that space, make them earn it rather than giving it to them.
Make the Press Count
Everton's pressing numbers point to something more than simply winning the ball back.
They are producing high turnovers and, importantly, turning those recoveries into shots. The latest data places Everton among the Premier League's more effective sides when it comes to converting high turnovers into attacking opportunities. That makes the press one of Everton's clearest attacking weapons.
Against Tottenham, the objective should be to recreate the conditions that make that press effective. Allow Spurs to play into areas where Everton can jump, win the next ball and attack before the opposition can reset.
Brentford showed the value of this earlier in the season, but Everton have their own evidence to rely on. This is already one of their strengths. The challenge is making it hurt Tottenham.
The first pass after the turnover matters. The runners have to go. The attack has to be immediate. Win it high. Go forward. Make the turnover count.
The Röhl Question
Everton’s press works best when the distances behind it stay short. Their pass map against Manchester United was more vertically stretched than Newcastle’s against Tottenham. A pass map is not a defensive shape, but it does highlight a potential issue: Everton cannot afford to become disconnected when possession turns over.
This is where Moyes has a selection decision to make. One option would be O’Brien at right-back with Röhl on the right wing. Röhl has played wide before, and his profile could allow him to narrow inside and help keep the right side connected to Garner and the midfield.
REUTERS
The trade-off is clear. Everton would sacrifice some of George’s attacking unpredictability and Brennan Johnson’s directness for greater control. Against Tottenham, that may be a worthwhile exchange.
Keep the distances short. Win the second ball. Don’t give Spurs the transition they want.
Make Tottenham Defend
Everton don't need to force the game through one route. Their left side is already where much of their attacking-half possession develops, and Jack Grealish gives them a natural outlet to draw Tottenham across.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has also been heavily involved in Everton's shot-ending sequences, with 20 open-play involvements already this season.
That gives Everton a starting point. Use Grealish to attract Spurs towards the left. Move the ball quickly when they shift, then attack the space that opens on the opposite side. And when possession is lost, the same connectivity becomes important in reverse.
Press when the trigger is there, keep the distances short and make Tottenham play under pressure. Then attack the set piece.
The blueprint is simple: use Everton's existing strengths rather than trying to manufacture something new.
Stretch them. Press them. Attack the spaces. Make every advantage count.