Tottenham vs. Everton: a first goal becomes an urgent priority

Tottenham host Everton at 12:30 p.m. Eastern on September 12, 2026 (11:30 p.m. in Vietnam, UTC+7). Spurs sit 18th on one point, winless and one of three Premier League teams yet to score. Another blank would be their first scoreless opening four-game league sequence. Everton are eighth with five points and unbeaten.

Everton have kept finding late answers

Football365 reported an opening win over Crystal Palace followed by a 1–1 draw with Bournemouth and a 2–2 draw with Manchester United, both rescued late. Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s striking equalizer against United strengthened his case to stay in the lineup. David Moyes is without Christian Norgaard until after the international break and may also lose James Garner, who left the United game early.

Maddison returns, Mudryk is out again

James Maddison has recovered from a shoulder injury, giving Roberto De Zerbi a welcome option. Mykhailo Mudryk, who returned after more than 600 days out in the draw with Nottingham Forest, then injured his ankle in training and faces another six to eight weeks out.

Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons, and Wilson Odobert remain long-term absences. Richarlison was not registered after failing to find a new club in the transfer window. Mohammed Kudus, a substitute in the last two games, could start.

The previous meeting carried survival stakes

Spurs beat Everton 1–0 on May 24, 2026, on the final day of the previous season to secure Premier League survival. That match produced five yellow cards, three for Tottenham and two for Everton.

What to watch

A winless side meets an unbeaten one. The original analysis identifies Tottenham’s conversion, rather than simply the absence of chances, as the issue. Everton have shown resilience and timely finishing. An Everton opener would intensify the pressure on De Zerbi’s side as the possibility of an unwanted scoring record grows.

Tactical reading guide

The illustration asks how width affects the defenders’ spacing and who tracks the far-post run. If a winger reaches the end line, watch the receiver of a possible cutback rather than assuming the wide advance will create a shot.

Sources and scope

Premier League — 2026/27 fixtures · Yahoo Sports — team news and context · Football365 — preview and team form · LastWordOnSports — confirmed lineups

This preview presents scenarios based on the original article’s reported team news and form, not events that have already occurred.