Everton v Tottenham preview: Win for Spurs guarantees Europa League

Tottenham travel to Everton on Sunday knowing a win will guarantee a top-six finish and Europa League football next season.

Chelsea's Capital One Cup triumph means sixth place in the Premier League will also enter the competition, and Spurs currently lie one point ahead of Southampton going into the final fixture.

Mauricio Pochettino's men halted a run of three top-flight games without a win after they beat relegation-threatened Hull City last week, while PFA Young Player of the Year Harry Kane will be looking to finish strongly ahead of the European U21 Championship in the summer.

The hosts, meanwhile, had Romelu Lukaku to thank as they stole a late victory at West Ham last time out, and three points for the Toffees could see them finish in the top half, although that will depend on the Hammers' result at Newcastle. The two sides currently lie level on points and goal difference, with goals scored putting Roberto Martinez's men narrowly ahead.

Team news

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On-loan midfielder Aaron Lennon is ineligible to face his parent club, while out-of-favour defender Sylvain Distin - who is out of contract at the end of the season - will be given the chance to say a fond farewell to Goodison Park if he recovers from illness. 

Centre-back Antolin Alcaraz, who is also out of contract, is not fit and is joined on the sidelines by fellow defenders Leighton Baines and Tony Hibbert, midfielders Steven Pienaar, Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson.

Tottenham will assess goalkeeper Michel Vorm following illness, while forward Emmanuel Adebayor has been given compassionate leave to return to Togo for family matters.

Defender Vlad Chiriches is suspended, while Kyle Walker (foot) and Ben Davies (shoulder) remain sidelined.

Opta facts

Everton have gone seven games unbeaten at home to Tottenham in the Premier League, winning three (D4).

Spurs have won consecutive PL games against Everton for the first time since April 2006 (a run of four wins).

Tottenham have won on the final day in each of the last four seasons; the longest current run in the Premier League.

Harry Kane has won his team more points than any other player in the Premier League this season (22).

Kane has failed to score in his last four Premier League games, his longest drought since October.

Leighton Baines needs one more assist to reach double figures for only the second time in his Premier League career.

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Merson's prediction

Everton have been disappointing this season. I think they are a decent team that should be finishing higher. I think the manager chopped and changed things when it was going well. Tottenham’s season has completely fizzled out and the manager is now looking ahead to see which players want to play his way. There will be a lot of movement at Tottenham. I think Mauricio Pochettino is a good manager - he’ll put more of his stamp on things next season. But I think Everton will have the advantage here, being at home.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (16/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Everton are Sky Bet’s 5/4 favourites for the victory on Sunday, with Tottenham considered 19/10 outsiders while the draw is priced at 13/5. Spurs have won the last two meetings by a solitary goal and are 7/2 to prevail by a single-goal margin again, while a 1-1 draw is considered the most likely scoreline at 11/2. Romelu Lukaku is the 5/1 favourite in the first goalscorer market, closely followed by Harry Kane (11/2), while it's 11/2 for both young strikers to find the net.