Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen has had his say ahead of tonight’ match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.
Both sides meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the Toffees able to leapfrog their opponents in the table with a victory and also condemn them to the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Since Carlo Ancelotti’s first game in charge of Everton on Boxing Day, only Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City have earned more Premier League points than the Toffees (25 – W7 D4 L3).
Jose Mourinho will certainly be looking for an improved performance after last Thursday’s display in the 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United.
Owen believes that Spurs have gone backwards this season and will struggle to make a surge towards the top end of the table, but warned a defeat would certainly end any outside hopes of a fifth successive season in the Champions League.
He told BetVictor: “Everton are unbeaten since the restart and come into this match on the back of a 2-1 victory over Leicester City. They are a team transformed since Carlo Ancelotti arrived at the club back in December and I would expect them to be in real contention for a European place next season.
“However, as a result of points dropped before Ancelotti arrived, I think their charge up the table may be a little too late to secure a qualification place this season.
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“Spurs have had a very difficult season after the highs of last year. I think they have really regressed and I think Jose Mourinho has a pretty big job on his hands if they are to get back to the top end of the table.
“A really tricky game to call this one. In many ways, a defeat would put paid to any lingering hopes of a top-four finish for Tottenham but I can’t help but think that Jose Mourinho will demand a positive reaction to what was a very disappointing defeat away at Bramall Lane on Thursday evening.”
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