Tottenham Hotspur v Everton: Spurs Seek First League Win Amid Goal Drought
Tottenham Hotspur return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening still hunting their first Premier League victory of the season, with the tension already beginning to creep in.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side sit 18th after taking just a single point from their opening three games. One draw, two defeats, and a worrying trend in front of goal. If they repeat last weekend’s goalless stalemate at Forest, they will go four straight league matches without scoring for the first time in the club’s history.
That statistic hangs over this fixture. So does another.
Spurs’ only win and only clean sheet in their last 12 top-flight home games came against these very opponents. It is a fragile piece of comfort, but one De Zerbi and his players will cling to as they look for a spark.
Team news: Maddison a doubt, wide options thin
James Maddison remains the headline concern. The midfielder trained before the trip to Forest but did not make the squad, still troubled by the shoulder injury he picked up in the opening-day defeat to Brentford. He is again a doubt, and Spurs’ creativity suffers every time his name is missing from the teamsheet.
The list of absentees does not end there.
Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are all still working their way back from knee injuries, depriving De Zerbi of three significant attacking options. Mykhaylo Mudryk, who finally made his first competitive appearance in over 600 days against Forest, has since suffered a fresh setback. An ankle injury will sideline him for six to eight weeks, just when he looked ready to rejoin the fight.
Those injuries shape the way Spurs must line up. With so many wide players out, De Zerbi is expected to stick with Savio and Mathys Tel in the wide attacking roles. Both will be asked to stretch the pitch, both will be under pressure to end that barren run in front of goal.
In the middle, Mohammed Kudus continues to build his minutes after a long spell out. He brings power, timing and a direct threat between the lines, but Spurs will need to manage him carefully as he edges back towards full sharpness.
Predicted Tottenham XI
De Zerbi is likely to stay with a 4-2-3-1 shape, looking for control in midfield and speed on the break:
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Robertson; Tonali, Bentancur; Savio, Fernandes, Tel; Solanke.
That spine – Sandro Tonali and Rodrigo Bentancur sitting behind Bruno Fernandes – carries enough quality to dominate the ball. The question is whether the movement ahead of them can finally turn possession into goals.
Kick-off time and TV details
The Premier League clash kicks off at 17:30 on Saturday, 12 September 2026, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In the UK, the game will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event.
Spurs stand on the edge of an unwanted record and a restless home crowd. Everton arrive knowing they were the last side to be shut out and beaten here. Which of those stories survives Saturday night?
