Why Tottenham vs Everton Is an Early Pressure Test for Roberto De Zerbi
Tottenham Hotspur host Everton in the Premier League with more than three points at stake. Roberto De Zerbi's side are winless after three league games, with one point, and they have not scored a Premier League goal yet. Everton are unbeaten, though two of their three matches have been draws.
The summer has loaded this fixture with meaning. Tottenham spent nearly £400 million revamping the squad after a near-relegation last season. The new arrivals have not yet produced a league goal, and De Zerbi is still searching for his first win. Everton, by contrast, have already shown a knack for late drama. Ainsley Maitland-Niles marked his Everton debut with a stoppage-time equaliser against Manchester United last weekend. He starts again here.
Four Changes and a First League Start
De Zerbi has made four changes to the side that started at Nottingham Forest. Dominic Solanke comes in for his first league start of the season, joining Andy Robertson, Mateus Fernandes and Archie Gray in the XI. Mathys Tel drops to the bench, where James Maddison, Ben Davies and deadline-day signing Tosin Adarabioyo provide options. Adarabioyo is involved for the first time since joining.
Tottenham's starting XI: Kinsky; Robertson, van Hecke, Gray; Tonali, Savio, Fernandes; Solanke, Marmoush, Bentancur; van de Ven, captain.
Substitutes: Dubravka, Tosin, Senesi, Gallagher, Maddison, Tel, Bergvall, Kudus, Davies.
Everton's starting XI: Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, captain; Dewsbury-Hall, Barry, Mykolenko; George, Johnson, Garner; Armstrong.
Substitutes: Travers, King, Keane, Grealish, O'Brien, Dibling, Alcaraz, Hackney, Graham.
The lineups show two teams approaching the game differently. Tottenham are loading the midfield with ball players and using van de Ven from the start, which gives them pace and carrying power from deep. Solanke gives the attack a central reference point. Everton look more compact, with Tarkowski anchoring a defensive shape designed to frustrate.
Home Form Points One Way
The recent head-to-head record favours Tottenham. They have won their last five home meetings with Everton, scoring 14 goals and conceding one. That history makes the current winless run harder to ignore. A team that has spent heavily and failed to score cannot rely on reputation.
Everton's resilience adds tension. The late point against Manchester United showed they can stay in matches and punish mistakes. For Spurs, the pressure is straightforward: find a goal, keep a clean sheet, and give De Zerbi a first league win that the squad's investment demands.
Where to Watch
The match kicks off at 12:30 pm Eastern Time (5:30 pm UK) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In the United States, NBC carries the game, with streaming available on Fubo. Canadian viewers can stream it on Fubo. The tactical contest will likely turn on whether Tottenham's rebuilt midfield can break down an organised Everton side that has already made a habit of late comebacks.