Tottenham – Everton: Woeful Everton Punished By Spurs (5-0)

Amid turbulent seasons experienced by both clubs, Antonio Conte brushed aside a wayward effort from fellow ex-Chelsea manager Frank Lampard to replicate the Italian’s seasoned and curated wing-back system. The result was a tormenting scoreline that intensifies Everton’s very real relegation fears. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Charles Orchard.

November’s rather forgettable stalemate between these two sides saw two totally different managers in the retrospective dugouts, both sombrely observing their season aspirations diminishing amidst a pretty mediocre contest. Fast-forward four months, and the charismatic duo of Antonio Conte and Frank Lampard assumed the helms in North London for two sides whom finishing this campaign strongly represents both a short-term and long-term imperative.

Where to start with Tottenham? Any momentum gained in last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing of lowly Leeds was quickly sobered by Tuesday’s disastrous FA Cup exit to Middlesbrough. Conte has recently teased media outlets with encrypted interviews that suggest he may jump the boat, but for now he remains at the wheel to try and steer this Tottenham team towards a highly coveted Champions League spot. Bentancur replaced Winks in the only change from last week’s trip to Yorkshire, lining up in a familiar 3-4-3 formation.

Frank Lampard will likewise know that any honeymoon period with Everton is certainly a thing of the past; three losses in Lampard’s first four league fixtures and an unaddressed abysmal away record has rendered the Merseyside club powerless to gravitate away from an inevitable relegation scrap. One change saw Richarlison come in for Iwobi following last week’s defeat to Manchester City . . .