Michael Owen predicts winner in Everton clash v Tottenham Hotspur
Michael Owen believes Everton will secure the narrowest of victories against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park tonight.
The two sides are almost neck and neck in the Premier League table with the visitors just a point ahead of the Blues, and both clubs come into Friday night’s clash in a rotten run of form.
Everton are winless in five while Spurs have just a solitary win to their name in the same period as the pair stumble to the finishing line in the race for European football.
Writing in his regular column for BetVictor Owen backs the Blues to come out on top 2-1.
“You get the feeling that something has to give,” he said.
“Admittedly, Everton have an inconsistent record on home soil, however, the problems at Tottenham seem to be more mental than anything else, and that’s difficult to overcome in the short-term.
“I think this will be tight, but I reckon Everton will just shade it.”
Pressure on them
Jose Mourinho’s side may have the points advantage but like all the other sides in the hunt for European football they have played a match more than Everton.
That game in hand could prove crucial and might have an effect on proceedings on Merseyside tonight.
Spurs are the ones who have to chase victory, for a multitude of reasons.
Firstly with the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Gareth Bale in their ranks they clearly they have superior attacking talents with all three labelled world-class, although the latter’s powers appear to be fading somewhat.
They’re also desperate to achieve Champions League qualification while we would settle for the Europa League given our lack of continental football in general over the years.
The extra game means we can play a more patient game, something we have become accustomed to this season.
It can lead to quite dull and attritional affairs as seen on Monday night versus Brighton but this is a different type of game and we don’t need to go gung-ho here.
The previous encounter between the sides was a manic 5-4 extra-time victory for the Blues in the FA Cup in February.
We can’t see a similar score here with confidence dented in both corners, but we should be the more optimistic of the two after also beating them 1-0 in the first game of the season.
In other Everton news, Alan Brazil moots summer exit for Blues ace who has ‘gone off the boil’.
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