Why Tottenham’s trip to Everton could start a September struggle
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This month could have a huge impact for Kane and co
Tottenham head to Everton this weekend and the game promises to kick-start a tricky run of fixtures for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Spurs will play seven games this month – four Premier League clashes plus two in the Champions League and a Carabao Cup fixture.
It’s a busy schedule, and Spurs are already on the back foot having lost to Chelsea last month before dropping more points at home to Burnley.
So the North Londoners could do with getting it all up and running at Goodison Park this weekend.
But history suggests that’s unlikely to happen.
On their last 10 visits to the blue half of Merseyside, Spurs have picked up just one victory.
It means they’ve dropped points nine times there in the last 10 years.
Harry Kane and co are already five points off the pace, so this weekend’s clash has the potential to hinder their title hopes even more.
Another difficult time at Goodison could see Spurs winning just one of their first four games of the campaign.
European challenges
And that’s not what they need with the visit of Borussia Dortmund looming large next Wednesday.
The German outfit comprehensively beat Spurs in the 2015-16 Europa League Round of 16.
Throw in Tottenham’s woeful Wembley record, and things could quickly turn sour for the London side over the next seven days.
A home game versus Swansea may offer some reprieve, although the Swans could yet pose a threat having signed Renato Sanches and Wilfried Bony last month.
A Carabao Cup third round game at Wembley against either Barnsley or Derby follows, before a trio of away games which promises to really test Tottenham’s resolve.
Tottenham and their travel woes
West Ham and the London Stadium await on September 23, and Spurs fans will not have fond memories of last season’s clash which saw the Hammers end Tottenham’s title bid.
That wasn’t the only time Spurs have slipped up against the Irons though – Tottenham have lost three of their last four league visits.
Then it’s a long flight out to Cyprus to face Apoel Nicosia.
On paper Spurs should win, but they may already be under pressure in the group depending on the Dortmund result, while they’ve picked up just two Champions League away wins in their history.
And to round off what could be a bruising month, Spurs will head to newly-promoted Huddersfield on the 30th.
The Terriers have got off to a blistering start in the top-tier, and in Steve Mounie boast a physical presence who could cause a tired Tottenham even more strife.
The season may be young, but September is poised to have a very big say on how Tottenham’s campaign shakes out.
Get it right and they could build vital momentum for an October which sees them take on Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United.
But slip up over the next few weeks, and suddenly that trio of fixtures looks all the more daunting.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
