Everton play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon looking to provide a positive response to losing at Chelsea before the international break.
Spurs make the trip to Merseyside on the back of two failed attempts to win at Wembley Stadium, and the North Londoners will be desperate not to drop more points against a potential rival for a top-four place in the standings.
Everton
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The drink-driving charge handed to Wayne Rooney has threatened to derail what has been a solid start to the campaign for Everton, who also earned a spot in the Europa League group stages in August.
However, despite Ronald Koeman's insistence that Rooney will feature this weekend, there is no hiding from the fact that the returning hero will be in the spotlight as he looks to add to his two league goals netted against Stoke City and Manchester City.
The fixture also represents the start of another period where games are going to come thick and fast for Everton, and with neither a new left-back nor a direct replacement for Romelu Lukaku being found, Koeman must decide how to tinker with his squad over the coming weeks.
The encounter with Spurs is likely to mark the home debut of Gylfi Sigurdsson and after his 50-yard strike against Hajduk Split in the Europa League, the Icelandic midfielder has already increased expectations after his club-record move.
The likes of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and defender Michael Keane have impressed since their transfers from Sunderland and Burnley respectively, but they are still looking for their first clean sheet against opposition which can be considered a direct rival.
Few negatives have emerged from their opening period of matches - the setback at Chelsea can be put down to tiredness more than anything else - but Koeman will be desperate to avoid another defeat at a time when his players need to display their credentials to improve on last season's seventh place.
Recent form: WDL
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDDL
Tottenham Hotspur
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After their 2-0 triumph over Newcastle United on the first weekend of the season, Spurs would have been hopeful of registering at least four points from back-to-back fixtures against Chelsea and Burnley at Wembley Stadium.
However, a 2-1 defeat against the Blues and a disappointing draw with the Clarets has left head coach Mauricio Pochettino frustrated with his team's lack of concentration, and it is a topic which is sure to be at the forefront of his team talk ahead of the game on Merseyside.
Spurs have already dropped three points as a result of conceding goals after the 87th minute, and it is a trend which will need to be bucked if the North Londoners are going to hold any aspirations of a title charge.
Forward Harry Kane is also under increasing pressure to get on the scoresheet for the first time this season and although last year's top goalscorer is effectively irreplaceable, Fernando Llorente is now waiting in the wings to challenge him for a starting role.
The former Swansea City frontman will likely begin life at the club on the substitutes' bench, but the Spaniard is now proven in England's top flight having netted 15 goals in 33 appearances during the last campaign.
Pochettino will naturally have one eye on the club's Champions League opener with Borussia Dortmund but like Everton, Spurs cannot realistically afford to go three games without success in the league with Manchester United having already established a lead at the top of the table.
Recent form: WLD
Team News
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Koeman has already revealed that Rooney will feature in his squad this weekend, but a decision must be made on where the attacker lines up with both Sigurdsson and Sandro Ramirez pushing for starts.
New signing Nikola Vlasic is also expected to make an appearance in the squad, while Oumar Niasse could be on the bench after Koeman decided to include him in the club's 25-man group for the league.
Spurs have revealed that Victor Wanyama is likely to spend a few weeks on the sidelines with the injury he sustained before the Burnley match.
Davinson Sanchez and Harry Winks could come into contention for a starting role should Pochettino opt for more solidity in midfield, which would likely lead to Son Heung-min being the player to drop out.
Kieran Trippier will start at right-back after missing England's recent internationals, meaning that Serge Aurier will likely begin on the bench after joining from Paris Saint-Germain.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford, Keane, Williams, Jagielka, Martina, Gueye, Schneiderlin, Baines, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin, Rooney
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Trippier, Dier, Dembele, Davies, Eriksen, Alli, Kane
Head To Head
Saturday's fixture will represent the 174th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive match, with Spurs claiming 64 wins in comparison to 55 victories for Everton.
While the historical record suggests that neither team dominate this clash, the recent matches between the clubs proves otherwise with Spurs currently possessing a nine-match unbeaten streak against the Toffees.
The corresponding fixture last season took place on the opening weekend, with Erik Lamela cancelling out an early Ross Barkley free kick to earn Spurs a point.
We say: Everton 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Everton have already shown this season that they are a stronger unit in defence, while Spurs have failed to make the most of their opportunities in front of goal. It leaves us having little choice but to predict a draw between two high-quality sides.
Darren Plant
