STATS: Walker’s tackles for Tottenham Hotspur vs Baines’ crossing for Everton
Tottenham v Everton, Sunday 14:05
– Jan Vertonghen and Gareth Bale provided a touch of class as another efficient Tottenham performance saw them beat Swansea 1-2 and move closer to automatic Champions League qualification.
– Unsurprisingly for anyone who has been watching the Premier League this season, Everton will likely have been heavily factoring in how to deal with Gareth Balein their preparations this week. The Tottenham flyer currently ranks first on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for attacking contributions made this season with 284, on average one every 8.9 minutes he’s been on the pitch.
– Jan Vertonghen continues his march towards being rated as perhaps the best centre back in the Premier League after capping another fine performance last weekend with another goal and an assist. The classy defender certainly knows how to do the business in front of goal and has compiled a superb 68.9% shot accuracy rate from 29 attempts, registering 4 goals along the way.
– Defensive colleague Kyle Walker also looks to be coming back to his best, dominating proceedings at the back for Tottenham last weekend. He won more tackles than any other player in the league in the last round (9) and Spurs will need him to be at his best to shackle Leighton Baines.
– A sublime solo effort from Kevin Mirallas was the difference in a dogged encounter between Everton and Stoke at Goodison Park as the Toffees emerged the 1-0 victors.
– Kevin Mirallas has proved to be yet another solid signing by David Moyes. The Belgian winger has adapted quickly to the pace of the Premier League and certainly knows where the goal is. He has one of the best shot accuracy rates in the league, the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index rating him as getting 72% of his 50 total shots to work the keeper.
– His compatriot Marouane Fellaini unfortunately continues in his streak of defensive ill-discipline.Fellaini has committed more fouls than any other player in the Premier League this season (61).
– Shutting down Leighton Baines is key to stifling Everton’s play given the impact the full-back has down the left flank for the Toffees. He is by far the most dynamic crosser of the ball for David Moyes’ side, registering 106 this season, 70 more than his nearest squad rival Steven Pienaar.