Premier League 2020/21: Tottenham vs Everton – tactical analysis

Welcome back, Premier League! The top flight of English football finally returns after a six-week break. The first matchday brought together multiple UEFA Champions League winners as well as former Real Madrid managers in José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. Both managers were looking for a win after failing to close the 2019/20 season with three points.

The game was more like a game of chess. From time to time, Mourinho and Ancelotti adjusted their tactics to cancel out their counterpart’s strategies. For the naked eyes, the match seemed a bit dull because of that. However, there’s a lot more to it tactically than meets the eye. Without further ado, this tactical analysis will examine how Everton were able to defeat Tottenham Hotspur away from home.

Lineups

Mourinho opted for 4–2–3–1 in this game. The back-four consisted of Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld, as well as new recruit Matt Doherty. Upfront, talisman Harry Kane was supported by the trio of Lucas Moura, Dele Alli, and Son Heung-min just behind him. Spurs’ dugout was filled with names like Moussa Sissoko, Steven Bergwijn, and Tanguy Ndombélé.

In the opposite side, Ancelotti chose 4–1–4–1 for his team. All of their blockbuster signings — Allan, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and James Rodríguez — were chosen to start the game. The former two played in the midfield alongside ex-Barcelona player André Gomes, while the latter started in the attacking line alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Players like Gylfi Sigurðsson, Tom Davies, and Moise Kean had to start the match from the bench.

Conservative start from the Lilywhites

This analysis will start by examining Tottenham’s cautious defensive tactics in the opening sequence of the game. Spurs did that by defending in a mid-block 4–4–2 whenever the Toffees enjoy the possession. Sometimes, they could even be found defending deeper with more compactness in the structure.

Everton — given the chance to have the ball — moved to a 2–3–5-ish shape in their attacks. In that shape, both full-backs went wide alongside the attackers, while the wingers tucked inside to play in the half-spaces. Behind them, Doucouré, Allan, and Gomes stayed in a rather flat line in the midfield; providing balance for the marauding full-backs.

Despite the ‘conservative’ shape, Spurs defended quite actively when Everton tried to penetrate their block. That being their activeness to set up traps and cover the spaces cleverly whenever Everton tried to move through the thirds. There are differences, though, especially when the ball was played centrally and through the flanks.

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