“Things needs to change”- Paul Merson predicts the score when Tottenham face Everton this weekend
Both Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are eager to secure their first victory of the new Premier League season as they prepare to face off in north London on Saturday.
Tottenham comes into the match following a 1-1 draw against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on the opening weekend. In that game, Pedro Porro’s first-half header gave Spurs the lead, but Jamie Vardy equalized for Leicester, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s side with a single point.
Meanwhile, Everton endured a disappointing start to their campaign, suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park. The loss marked a challenging debut for Brighton’s new manager, Fabian Hurzeler, who quickly made a strong impression in his first competitive game.
As the two teams prepare to clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, former Arsenal midfielder and pundit Paul Merson has weighed in on the encounter. Merson believes that Tottenham, under the guidance of Postecoglou, possess the quality to overcome Everton and secure their first win of the season.
Merson predicts a victory for Tottenham against Everton, reflecting on Spurs’ performance against Leicester. He noted that while Tottenham dominated the first half, they failed to capitalize on their momentum, allowing Leicester to grow into the game and eventually snatch a point.
“I thought Spurs were outstanding in the first half against Leicester,” Merson wrote in his column for Sportskeeda. “However, they did not put the game to bed, and it cost them three points. It must have been a very disappointing result for Spurs. They need to be consistent throughout the full 90 minutes. Right now, they’re only playing well in patches, and that has to change.”
Despite their missed opportunities against Leicester, Merson is confident that Tottenham will be more clinical in front of goal this weekend. He predicts a 2-0 win for the home side, further adding to Sean Dyche’s woes at Everton.
Merson continued: “If Spurs had scored a second goal against Leicester, it could have been a much bigger win, maybe 4-0 or 5-0. Despite that disappointment, I’m backing Spurs to get the win, even though it won’t be easy. Everton can make it difficult, but I just don’t see Tottenham missing that many chances again. It looks like it’ll be another long season for Sean Dyche’s Everton.”
Joining Merson in predicting a Tottenham victory is former footballer Chris Sutton, who also sees Spurs as the overwhelming favorites to claim all three points this weekend.
The upcoming match could signal the beginning of contrasting seasons for Tottenham and Everton. Tottenham finished fifth in the Premier League last season, a respectable achievement for the club under their new manager. Postecoglou has brought an exciting style of play to Spurs, and with four summer signings, including standout acquisition Dominic Solanke, the team is showing signs of progress. Tottenham will be looking to build on the foundation laid since the Australian’s arrival last summer.
In contrast, Everton find themselves in turmoil both on and off the pitch. The club’s ownership situation remains uncertain, with American businessman John Textor currently in talks with Everton owner Farhad Moshiri over a potential takeover. The club is grappling with financial difficulties, adding to the pressure on the field.
Everton’s lackluster performance against Brighton did little to inspire confidence among their supporters, as the team struggled to keep pace with a Seagulls side playing their first competitive match under new management. If results don’t improve quickly, Sean Dyche may find himself embroiled in another relegation battle, having only narrowly avoided the drop last season. The pressure is mounting for Dyche and his squad as they head into what could be a defining match early in the season.