1 year ago
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The teams are in the tunnel …
Cristian Stellini speaks …
“I feel [I am] in an important position with a lot of responsibility. I must fly solo and for sure it is not easy but I have a lot of things I learned in the long period I worked with Antonio. We are ready for the next 10 matches.
“Nothing changes with what the team has to do. We have to start well and be consistent.”
A lovely night on Merseyside.
Everton are set for a tumultuous few months regardless of whether they stay up or not.
There is no Calvert-Lewin in the Everton squad. They are lacking a consistent goalscorer this season and it could cause their ultimate demise. They really need him back fit soon.
It was a busy day of Premier League sackings yesterday. Read Football Daily for more!
Bill Preston emails: “I’m usually rather bullish about Everton’s ability to weather storms, but what with everything going on it’ll take more than thrilling heroics in the pitch and getting a stomp on past their relegation rivals.
“The new stadium does look great, appears to be going up quickly, and would be a great new start for the club wherever they end up.
“Have a good one!”
The new stadium is, according to Guardian analysis, three months behind schedule.
Harry Kane speaks …
On Conte’s exit: “That’s football. I wish Antonio all the best. It is about moving on now. It is about starting tonight with an important three points.”
On Conte’s comments about the squad: “He had his opinions on the matter and it was an emotional moment after a disappointing end to that game. We are focused on getting into the top four, we can’t focus on the past.”
On actual football: “This league is really tight, especially for third, fourth, fifth. We have had an OK season but we know we can improve.”
Sean Dyche speaks …
On an unchanged team: “I think they operated well. I liked what I saw there [at Chelsea] and we are working hard as a group.
On state of play: “I thought the mentality was very good, the fans have been excellent.
“I think the feel of the stadium, the way the fans have got behind the team. The fans have been terrific. The team have got to be ready at the first whistle.
“The players are putting a lot of effort into the training sessions and matches.
“The league table is what it is, I am more focused on sorting what we do. We want to build on what we have been doing.”
Hugo Lloris returns to the lineup for Spurs following injury. One of the few positive for Spurs in recent weeks has been the form of Fraser Forster, earning him a call-up to the England squad.
Starting lineups
Everton (4-3-3): Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Keane, Godfrey; Gueye, Onana, Doucoure; Iwobi, McNeil, Gray
Subs: Begovic, Holgate, Mina, Mykolenko, Maupay, Davies, Coady, Garner, Simms
Tottenham (3-4-3): Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Porro, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
Subs: Forster, Austin, Tanganga, Sanchez, Sarr, Devine, Mundle, Lucas, Danjuma
Preamble
I am not saying things are looking bad at Everton but they are back in the relegation zone at kick-off following victories for Bournemouth and West Ham this weekend, while their accounts show their survival as a club will be in doubt if they drop down to the Championship.
The good news is that they come into the match against Spurs having not lost in their past three games, picking up five points in the process. The international break may have hampered their momentum slightly, especially after the buoyant feeling provided by Ellis Simms’ late equaliser at Stamford Bridge last time out.
They come up against another crisis club in Spurs, who are about to enjoy their first game of the post-Antonio Conte era. His time in north London seemed to be one grinding existence of moans about the state of the club without realising that he had something to do with it, even if he was right about most of it.
Cristian Stellini is the man in charge for now. He has already managed a few games this season due to Conte’s absence following surgery. Can he be the man to kickstart their season? We shall find out tonight.
Here’s to a cracker!
Kick-off: 8pm BST
English (US)