Tottenham vs. Everton: How the Toffees Should Line Up in Premier League Game
Everton travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday to face fellow Europa League participants, Tottenham Hotspur.
The visitors will be hoping to cap off a memorable week at the club, with a Premier League win over West Ham followed up by an impressive 2-0 away win in Wolfsburg.
Victory in Europe secured qualification to the knockout stages, enabling an increased focus on domestic matters until 2015.
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In league terms, the Toffees are unbeaten in five games, and sit one spot above 10th-placed Spurs, who also have 17 points.
Since three-straight wins between 2006 and 2008, Everton have not taken three points from White Hart Lane in five matches, losing three. Last season's corresponding fixture ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat.
Team News
Despite the elation emanating from another memorable week in Europe, it once again came at a cost as James McCarthy joined the Toffees' injury list.
The Ireland international limped off after 31 minutes clutching his hamstring and his absence will provide a major blow to Roberto Martinez.
Elsewhere, none of Gareth Barry, Leighton Baines, Steven Naismith, Steven Pienaar, Darron Gibson, Antolin Alcaraz, John Stones or Bryan Oviedo even traveled to Germany.
At best, all will be doubtful to make this game, as will McCarthy.
Selection
With that team news considered, here's a line-up that would make sense for the Toffees:
Tim Howard will start in goal, as part of a defence that essentially picks itself.
Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin must continue at centre-back, joined by the rested Seamus Coleman.
The only dilemma involves Baines' probable absence and which of Tony Hibbert and Luke Garbutt to replace him with at left-back.
After Garbutt's assured showing in Wolfsburg, this is an entirely 50-50 call and Martinez will have merits in swaying either way.
Garbutt may provide better balance to the side, but playing away at a top-six rival—and with the Toffees counter-attacking as much as possible in recent fixtures—shoring up the back four seems the best option. Therefore, the more defensive-minded Hibbert makes this XI.
With McCarthy seemingly sidelined, Muhamed Besic should then be joined by Leon Osman in central midfield, as he was for much of the game in Germany.
Both players have arguably been the stand-out performers in the most recent fixtures: Osman against West Ham and Besic at Wolfsburg.
Further forward, Martinez has a few more options to choose from and may opt for Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley, Samuel Eto'o and Kevin Mirallas as an attacking quartet, with Lukaku playing as the sole striker.
This would certainly pose problems to Spurs, but reverting Barkley to the No. 10 spot is also something Martinez should be considering.
It was where he, Everton and Lukaku all found most success last season. Since returning from injury, the youngster's predominately been used in a wider role to accommodate both Eto'o and Naismith.
This scenario would then keep Eto'o back for some impact off the bench, and it would use Aiden McGeady as another counter-attacking weapon.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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