Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou desperately needs a win vs Everton on Sunday
Tottenham Hotspur make the trip to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Lilywhites suffered their 11th defeat of the Premier League season to Arsenal away in midweek, and after Saturday’s results, they have slipped to 15th in the table.
It was an extremely underwhelming display from Ange Postecoglou’s side at the Emirates Stadium, lacking the desire, commitment and spirit to compete in the North London derby. With a quick turnaround time between fixtures, Tottenham cannot continue to lick their wounds from the derby defeat and shift their focus toward the game at Everton.
Ange Postecoglou is seeking only his first Premier League victory since mid-December when his boys smashed basement boys Southampton 5-0 at the St Mary’s Stadium. He has been handed an injury boost with Ben Davies set to return to the squad after over a month on the sidelines with a hamstring issue. This positive update on Davies comes after Richarlison’s return from a long injury layoff in midweek, with the Brazilian playing 12 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.
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With Richarlison now fit, Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham thinks Postecoglou could decide to bench Dominic Solanke and start the Brazilian up top against Everton.
“Richarlison did score twice at Goodison Park last season,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.
“Therefore, that’s an option because Solanke looked very tired against Arsenal. He has been playing game after game after game. At some point, he is going to need to be rested.
“Richarlison is someone who always performs well when he is the main man. As a result, if there was ever a game to start him in, this is the one, and that would help Solanke, who looks out on his feet at the moment.
“As a result, we will see what happens, but Solanke could definitely be benched for Richarlison, who looked energetic when he came on against Arsenal.”
Dominic Solanke, a club-record signing from Bournemouth, has led Tottenham’s attack well in his debut season thus far. With so many injuries in the squad, the Englishman has managed to keep himself fit despite being used consistently by the gaffer. While he may have not scored goals regularly, he has hugely impressed with his work ethic, pressing, hold-up and link-up play.
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Undoubtedly, Solanke is due a rest after playing relentlessly for months. Richarlison’s comeback from injury should allow Big Ange to give the 27-year-old a much-needed breather. However, we don’t see that happening against Everton as Tottenham are in desperate need of a win and Big Ange would want his best players starting at Goodison Park on Sunday, and that involves Solanke.
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Moreover, Richarlison’s patchy injury record means it is unlikely the Australian tactician will throw him in the starting XI against his former employers. He would have been encouraged by the South American’s energetic cameo vs Arsenal but Solanke appears to be the main man in attack for Tottenham yet again.