Everton Seek Momentum Against Tottenham at Hotspur Stadium
Everton head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday with something they’ve not carried often in recent years on the road: momentum.
David Moyes has his side unbeaten after four Premier League games, two wins and two draws leaving them eighth on five points. The mood shifted sharply last weekend, when Ainsley Maitland-Niles stepped up in stoppage time and lashed a 25-yard equaliser past Manchester United to snatch a point. It felt like more than just a goal; it felt like a jolt of belief.
The numbers away from home tell a different story. Everton haven’t won any of their last six league games on their travels, and their record specifically at Tottenham is grim: five straight Premier League defeats. History says trouble. Current form says they have a puncher’s chance.
Moyes weighs up midfield balance
Team selection will be shaped by the fitness of James Garner. The midfielder is not yet considered fully ready after the injury that opened the door for Maitland-Niles to come off the bench and change the game against United. That likely keeps Moyes leaning towards Hayden Hackney in the engine room.
Hackney, who teed up Tyrique George’s leveller in that same dramatic draw, is in line to partner Harrison Armstrong at the base of midfield. It’s a pairing that offers legs, aggression and a willingness to play forward quickly — exactly what Everton will need if they’re to disrupt Spurs’ rhythm in North London.
Maitland-Niles, the hero from distance last weekend, is expected to continue at right-back. Moyes has turned to him ahead of auxiliary defender Merlin Rohl, trusting his recovery pace and composure in possession in a role that demands both against a side that attacks wide and fast.
Grealish set for full return
Further up the pitch, Jack Grealish’s second debut for the club is set to be followed by a return to the starting XI. His presence should push Brennan Johnson out of the line-up, with Grealish offering more control on the ball and the ability to draw fouls and slow the game when needed.
Moyes’s injury list is short but significant. Christian Norgaard remains out until October, leaving the manager with one major absentee in the middle of the park but a largely settled group elsewhere. Continuity, at least, is on Everton’s side.
The expected shape is a 4-2-3-1, with Jordan Pickford behind a back four of Maitland-Niles, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko. Armstrong and Hackney should anchor midfield, with an attacking trio of Tyrique George, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish supporting Barry up front.
Everton possible XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Hackney; George, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.
Stage, time, and stakes
Kick-off is set for 17:30 on Saturday, 12 September 2026, under the lights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The game will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event.
For Everton, it’s simple. Keep the unbeaten run alive and they start to look like a side that can handle hostile grounds and heavy pressure. Fold again in North London, and that away-day narrative tightens its grip for another season.
