Tottenham v Everton: Can Blues open campaign with win

Our first match preview of the new Premier League season as Everton prepare to take on Tottenham Hotspur in their opening game of the 2020-21 campaign.

Everton traditionally don’t fare well in terms of opening day games, at least not recently. Last season saw a drab 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace and the year before they also drew away, at Wolves this time, in a more entertaining game that finished 2-2.

The Toffees are away yet again to kick-off this campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s first full season as manager. One good omen is that when the Blues began the 1984-85 season, their first fixture was against Sunday’s opponents, albeit at Goodison Park that year.

Everton were beaten 1-4 by Spurs in that game, but they went on of course to enjoy the best season in the club’s illustrious history, capturing the league title by a then record margin, winning one cup and reaching another final. A similar outcome to the season, if not that individual result, would be very welcome!

But getting back to reality, it is important that the Toffees do manage for once, to have a strong start to the season.

It can hardly be overstated how important it usually is to get off to a good beginning to the campaign, it so often decides which teams will ultimately enjoy a good and successful season.

Too often recently Everton’s opening few fixtures have led to poor, or at best inconsistent results, which have made it very difficult for the team to get any real momentum to their season. Let’s hope that it’s different in 2020-21.

The big question for Blues fans, is who among the three new star signings will be playing when the team runs out at Tottenham?

I would imagine if they are fully match-fit, that possibly both Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure might play, although whether they will both start together is another question.

As for James Rodriguez, that is more uncertain. Will he feature at some point? I guess it depends on his fitness levels after a prolonged spell out of the Real Madrid team.

The club have confirmed that Andre Gomes is fit to play as is Yerry Mina, but Mason Holgate misses out because of his toe injury. So other than long-term absentees Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Carlo Ancelotti has a full squad to pick from.

There’s still a lot of questions to be answered about this team though, not least in defence where there are issues about who will play in goal, who is to start at centre-half and at right-back.

I would give Jonas Lossl a chance in goal. Although he’s not ideal, I just don’t have any confidence in Jordan Pickford. I also think Jarrad Branthwaite deserves another chance alongside Micheal Keane, especially as Mina is only just back from injury.

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Then at right-back, on balance, I’d go for Seamus Coleman’s defensive nous and experience over young pretender Jonjo Kenny.

As for Tottenham, they haven’t been as active as Everton in this transfer window, so far anyway, but they did add one-time Toffees target Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to their midfield.

Like the Blues, Spurs have a high-profile manager with a glittering career of success, both here and in Europe. Jose Mourinho is a man who divides opinion, but he has a good track record of winning trophies.

He is hoping to make his latest Premier League job as successful in that respect, as previous roles at Chelsea and Manchester United have been.

Next. How will Everton fare in 2020-21 season. dark

Well I’m not making any predictions, but my ideal team to take on Tottenham, assuming all are fit is: Lossl, Coleman, Lucas Digne, Keane, Branthwaite, Gomes, Allan, Doucoure, Rodriguez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Another season begins..