Tottenham’s Premier League survival battle will go right down to the final day on Sunday.
Spurs head into their decisive clash against Everton knowing they still need at least a point at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to guarantee their place in the top flight and avoid a disastrous drop to the Championship.
The North London side had chances to secure safety earlier, but a frustrating 1-1 draw against Leeds United and a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea ensured the drama would continue into the final weekend.
Injured stars return at the ideal moment for Spurs
Despite the pressure surrounding the game, Roberto De Zerbi has finally been handed a much-needed boost with several key players returning to fitness — something the Italian has rarely enjoyed since taking charge in March.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s encounter, De Zerbi confirmed that both Dominic Solanke and James Maddison are available for selection.
He said: “Solanke is available. We have to decide if he starts in the first XI or not, and Maddison is available as well.
“It’s always difficult to decide before the match how many minutes he can play. He’s a different player, a top player for us, but we need to assess his physical condition and other factors. Still, both are available.”
Djed Spence is also expected to feature despite suffering a broken jaw during the recent clash with Chelsea following a collision with Liam Delap — an incident De Zerbi believed warranted a red card.
However, Cristian Romero will not be part of the squad, with the defender at the centre of major controversy this week after being spotted at boyhood club Belgrano in Argentina continuing rehabilitation work on his knee injury.
Reports later confirmed Romero would remain in Argentina instead of returning for Tottenham’s crucial final game of the season, sparking outrage among supporters.
Belgrano president Luis Artime added further fuel to the backlash by insisting the centre-back was in excellent condition.
He said: “Yesterday he was training and I told him I think he’s going to be the one who arrives at the World Cup in the best shape. I’ve seen him and he’s in great form. He’s going to arrive well-rested, ready to join the team at its peak.”
Those comments have only intensified questions from fans over why Romero is not back in England preparing with the squad, especially with Tottenham facing such a huge relegation showdown. Even supporters who accept he may not be fully fit believe he should still be present to support his teammates.
Ben Davies, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus are also unavailable for the Everton clash.
Predicted Tottenham lineup vs Everton
De Zerbi has named the same starting XI in each of Spurs’ last three matches, but changes now appear inevitable for the biggest game of the season.
Although Guglielmo Vicario has recovered from injury, Antonin Kinsky is still expected to retain his place in goal. Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Destiny Udogie should continue across the back line.
The biggest alterations are likely to come in midfield and attack.
Joao Palhinha impressed against Aston Villa but struggled badly against both Leeds and Chelsea, meaning Conor Gallagher could drop into a deeper midfield role alongside Rodrigo Bentancur.
James Maddison is expected to start despite concerns over his fitness, with De Zerbi likely to prioritise getting Spurs on the front foot early rather than relying on him to rescue the game later on.
Mathys Tel should keep his place in attack, while Richarlison is tipped to move out wide in place of the underperforming Randal Kolo Muani, whose recent displays have done little to justify another start.
Solanke is then expected to lead the line, while Spence could provide cover from the bench if Porro struggles physically during the match, allowing Richarlison to shift centrally if needed.
Predicted Tottenham XI vs Everton: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Gallagher; Tel, Maddison, Richarlison; Solanke.
