Everton v Spurs: Looking for a Lift at Goodison Park

by Matthew Harris · Published 14th April 2021 · Updated 14th April 2021

It’s getting tougher to remain upbeat as another difficult season draws to a close. There’s no disgrace in losing to an in-form Manchester United, even at home, but the weak capitulation and poor defensive display is hard to take.

In amongst all this is team selection and a use of substitutes that seems to want to remind us as to who is in charge. Are they done for the benefit of the club?

Opinions on that are becoming less divided as the season progresses but can things possibly improve as we travel to Goodison Park in this week’s Friday night game?

Team News

The team news from Friday appears to be the same as last weekend. Full backs Matt Doherty and Ben Davies were both ruled out of the clash with Manchester United and neither is expected to make the trip to Goodison. Davies has been pencilled in for a return to action against Southampton next week while Doherty has no suggested return date at the moment.

Despite picking up a few bookings lately, there are no suspensions to add to that absentee list.

Match Odds

Whoever has compiled the odds for this match has somehow made Tottenham favourites for the win. Spurs start at best odds of 13/10 with Unibet for the win while victory for Everton is next up at a top price of 30/13 with VBet. Completing the result market is the draw which can be claimed at 5/2 with Betway.

Those figures can only be based on Everton’s form which is pretty woeful coming into this game. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been challenging for European slots for much of the campaign but they’ve slumped in recent weeks. Over their last six matches, the Toffees have lost three and drawn two while their only victory came away to virtually-relegated West Brom.

Based on that form guide, the market starts to make a little more sense but this is one game where the neutrals will want to look at getting behind the outsiders.

Side Markets

First goalscorer markets have a familiar look to them with Harry Kane starting as the clear favourite. Our main striker is available at best odds of 19/5 with Unibet while the same bookmaker has the top price on Son Heung-Min at 27/5. Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is next at a best of 11/2 with VBet while Gareth Bale can be claimed at a top price of 13/2 with VBet once again.

Other options from within the Spurs camp include Dele Alli and Lucas Moura at 11/1 with Betway and Erik Lamela at 12/1 with Unibet.

Harry Kane

Away from the individual player markets, Both Teams to Score is available for Friday’s match at best odds of 6/7 with RedZone. That’s as close to Even Money as this bet usually gets but neither side has exactly been prolific of late. Spurs have scored in four of their last five matches and have compiled a total of six goals in the process. Everton, meanwhile, have managed just two goals in their last five games.

Those stats suggest that this could be a low scoring affair so what are our options in the Total Goals betting? Staking Above the 2.5 line attracts odds of Even Money with SportNation and RedZone and this increases to 5/2 with BetFred and 888Sport for Over 3.5.

It may, however, be a day to look Under that 2.5 line and this option can currently be claimed at a best of 9/10 with SportNation.

All that’s left is our regular suggestions in the Correct Score betting and a 1-1 final outcome will tempt many neutrals at best odds of 27/4 with RedZone. Alternatively, a 2-1 away win is listed at a top price of 19/2 while the same scoreline in favour of Everton is available at a best of 12/1. Both of those figures are also with RedZone.

Last Season

The corresponding fixture from 2019/20 was an eventful one even though it finished with a relatively predictable 1-1 scoreline. This was the match where Son Heung-Min was dismissed in the second half for an innocuous challenge that still managed to result in a regrettable long term injury for Andre Gomes. Sonny left the field in tears having earlier set up Dele Alli for the opening goal of the game on 63 minutes. The red card left Spurs with 11 minutes plus injury time to hold on but we failed as Cenk Tosun grabbed a share of the points on 97 minutes.

These days it’s hard enough to hold onto a lead with 11 men and a draw would be a popular option among those markets for Friday. Overall, our recent record against Everton is a good one but it’s all about current form and our worrying performances in recent weeks.

Verdict

We take no pleasure from the fact that two of our three tips came in for the Manchester United game. Over 3.5 goals and Son Heung-Min to score at any time in 90 minutes provided a profit but we’d have swapped it for a positive result.

Perhaps we’re getting more predictable as the season drags on. If that’s the case, there should be some decent value in getting behind Everton at those 30/13 win odds.

As usual, we will avoid the result and see if we can pick some decent prices from the side markets. Low scoring stats from recent games involving either side suggest there won’t be too many goals on Friday. Trends are there to be broken but it’s tough to see that pattern altering.

Under 2.5 goals is, therefore, the first bet although we were hoping that this would have risen to an odds against figure. With Everton’s key strikers struggling, Harry Kane to open the scoring looks reasonable at 19/5 as he doesn’t have too much competition from the other 21 players on the pitch.

Finally, we’ll end with our occasional tip for either team to win by one goal. We hope it’s Spurs but hope is fading fast as this long season stumbles on.