Everton and Tottenham Hotspur round off the Premier League weekend when they meet at Goodison Park on Monday night.
Both clubs have had a chaotic two weeks off the pitch, with issues at board level overshadowing action on the field.
Match preview
Everton enter the weekend on the back of accusations that they breached financial fair play rules, with the Premier League opening up an investigation which could see the Toffees deducted points.
The club staunchly denies the allegations claiming they have always worked within the limits, but it is unclear whether it will affect them this season.
On the field, Sean Dyche’s arrival has given everybody at the club a huge boost, after the perilous position Everton found themselves in under Frank Lampard.
They have won three of their four home games since Dyche’s appointment – all by one goal to nil – including against league leaders Arsenal and a Brentford side which had not been beaten in five months.
A 2-2 draw at Chelsea last time out was one of the stories of the weekend, as Ellis Simms scored his first Premier League goal just minutes from time to earn Everton a potentially crucial point at Stamford Bridge.
Abdoulaye Doucoure played a big role in the result too, setting up Simms after he had scored Everton’s first equaliser, meaning the midfielder now has two goals and two assists in three matches, after going 38 games without contributing to a goal at all.
Despite the upturn in form which has seen them take five points from a possible nine, Everton are still among the favourites for the drop, as they have played more games than most of the other eight sides in the relegation mix, all separated by just four points.
Spurs also represent unfavourable opponents for the Toffees to face next, as they have failed to beat them in the league at home since 2012, with a solitary win behind closed doors at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2020 their only victory in 20 meetings.
The week Spurs have had has been the most tumultuous out of any side in the Premier League.
Antonio Conte left his post as manager after his sensational outburst in the aftermath of their draw at Southampton before the international break.
Cristian Stellini has taken temporary charge until the end of the season, after deputising for Conte while he was absent following gallbladder surgery earlier this year.
On top of that, director of football Fabio Paratici has had his 30-month ban from Italian football turned into a worldwide ban by FIFA, essentially ending his time with the club.
On-field matters still appear promising for Spurs though, as they do remain in the top four going into the weekend, but they have played more games than Newcastle United, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Their last five away games have been a nightmare too, with a crushing defeat at Leicester City being followed up by exits from the Champions League and FA Cup, plus defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers before the late collapse at Southampton.
They have already conceded as many goals this season as they did in the whole of the last, more than they have let in at this stage of a season in 15 years.
Once again, they will look to Harry Kane to be the match winner, just a week after he became England’s all-time record goal scorer.
Kane has an excellent record against Everton too, having scored 14 career goals against the Toffees, including the opener in Spurs’ 2-0 win in the reverse fixture back in October.
Team News
Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains out for Everton, with Dyche refusing to put a time frame on when the striker may return.
Therefore, Demarai Gray should start up front again, despite the heroics of Simms off the bench at Chelsea.
Nathan Patterson came on in both of Scotland’s internationals last week, even though he has not featured for Everton since the start of January.
James Garner has been an unused substitute in all three games since he returned from a back injury.
Richarlison returning to his former club will be of the main subplots pre-match, but the Brazil international is doubtful for Spurs.
Ivan Perisic is a doubt after he hobbled off late on with a calf issue in Croatia’s win over Turkey on Tuesday, but he should be available to start having returned to training.
Ryan Sessegnon is not ready for a return yet and Emerson Royal has been ruled out for around a month, so issues at wing-back are piling up.
Hugo Lloris could return in goal soon, as could Yves Bissouma in the middle of the pitch, but Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur are out.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Godfrey; Iwobi, Onana, Gueye, Doucoure, McNeil; Gray
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Forster; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Pedro Porro, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son