Tottenham should maintain their challenge to stay on the coat-tails of the Manchester powerhouses when they entertain Everton at White Hart Lane in the Premier League on Wednesday (Tottenham 8/15 draw 3/1 Everton 6/1 – 90 minutes).
The north Londoners take on David Moyes’ men knowing a victory will put them level with second-placed United and three points behind Premier League leaders City in the race for the biggest prize on the domestic stage.
Harry Redknapp has the luxury of recalling the influential attacking triumvirate of Rafael van der Vaart, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale after resting them for Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup win over Cheltenham and Tottenham will not want to waste what could turn out to be a crucial game in hand.
The top-four hopefuls have scored in every home game in the Premier League so far this season and for all of the ongoing conjecture about an ever-changing back four – Redknapp will again be without Ledley King and William Gallas on Wednesday – it is worth noting Tottenham have only conceded one goal in their last five games at White Hart Lane in the top flight.
Redknapp has played a trick on his squad by making no secret of his desire to bring in a marquee signing in an attempt to keep them on their toes and, on paper at least, only injuries could prevent Tottenham from splitting – or even surpassing – the two Manchester clubs.
They started 2012 as the capital’s top club for the first time in 17 years and there is genuine belief that they could go close to achieving the unthinkable.
The visit of Everton gives them the chance to prove they can deliver on such promise but it will not be easy.
The Merseysiders have picked up recently and thoughts of relegation have eased off the back of a run of just one defeat in five games in all competitions.
Moyes continues to perform miracles with limited resources and Everton can prove belligerent and obdurate opponents on their travels.
They have come through a wretched spell at the end of 2011 – a run which yielded just three wins in all competitions from September 24 to December 17 – to climb up the table and allay fears of a relegation scrap for the time being at least.
The advice here is to stick with the home side because this fixture could mean just that bit more to them and speculative punters may like the Jermain Defoe, who has scored first on his last two starts, and Tottenham 2-0 win ‘Scorecast‘ selection, team news permitting.
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