Ben & Rob's preview - Everton

After three weeks and a day, we're finally back at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the visit of Everton in the Premier League this evening (8pm). N17 Live host Ben Haines and Club commentator Rob Daly take a look at the task ahead against the Toffees...

Not at the game? Don't forget to join Ben and Rob on our popular matchday show N17 Live across all Club channels from 7.15pm.

State of play

We've 13 games to go in the Premier League - Ben and Rob on targets, Everton and Dele's return to N17...

Rob: "The past few weeks, since the last home game, have had crazy highs and tough lows; the Manchester City and Leeds wins, the Burnley and Middlesbrough losses. Antonio Conte has stressed the need for consistency - but it’s been hard to establish. Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Moura coming back in to the fold after injury will help. I think I’ve been guilty of looking too far ahead, and while Spurs would still go above Manchester United and West Ham by winning their games in hand, the old cliché rings true with 13 to go; take each game as it comes and see where the team is in May. Everton are having their roughest season in some time. The Rafa Benitez appointment didn’t work out and Frank Lampard has lost three of his four Premier League games in charge so far. I did see their 3-0 win over Leeds and that was impressive - they played aggressively with intensity from the off and even Leeds couldn’t match them. I think Donny van de Beek is working well in their midfield, able to do good defensive work too. Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed the Man City game and Everton never look the same, but he could be back on Monday night. It’ll be a well-deserved, warm reception too for Dele. He’ll be desperate to make a first start."

Ben: "Doesn’t it feel completely bizarre that we have only 13 games left of the season? In some ways it has gone on forever with so much happening. In others, it feels like we’re just scratching the surface and there’s still so much more to unfold in the Premier League given the race for the title, top four, Europe and the relegation battle too. I think Rob's right - we are looking at one game at a time here. Just focus on the next one and try to build that consistency. Whilst the Middlesbrough game has hit me pretty hard because I love the FA Cup so much, at the same time, it just makes the job so so clear, doesn’t it? Pick off game by game and move toward the top four and finish the season in those Champions League positions. We play two of our top four rivals in March, we still have to play Arsenal, it’s realistically in our hands. In terms of Everton, their performance against City was really good. I thought that they were great value for a point at least. Richarlison was excellent, he loves the physical battle, his hold up play is outstanding and his endurance is really impressive as well - Cuti Romero, Eric Dier and Ben Davies will have their work cut out if they face both him and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Having said this, going forward, I think Everton look incredibly low on confidence at the back. It would be lovely to see some of the flowing attacking play we watched against Leeds from the front three again."

Random question

Another tester - Paul Gascoigne, David Ginola, Aaron Lennon and Gary Lineker all played for Spurs and Everton - you can pick one...!

Ben: "If I could have Gascoigne in his prime - I'd throw him into this team immediately. He would light it up. I’ve got so much affection towards the others. Aaron Lennon was a huge part of one of my favourite-ever Spurs teams, Gary Lineker's goalscoring was incredible, and David Ginola was just the most wonderful dribbler and had a hell of a shot on him as well, but Gazza could do anything and everything. Imagine having him in the centre of the park at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium! Also, imagine him and Antonio Conte together! Incredible!"

Rob: "As you know by now, I always do this as if the player goes in the first team now... so here, I’m going for Gary Lineker, in a front two with Harry Kane dropping deep creating chances. Goals, goals, goals! This might have been the toughest one to pick yet, because even as I say this, my brain is making counter-arguments for Ginola, Gascoigne and Lennon, but I’ll stick with Lineker!"