Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Roberto De Zerbi believes a first Premier League win of the season is the key to unlocking Tottenham’s confidence as they prepare to face Everton on Saturday.
Spurs lost their first two league games of the 2026-27 campaign but picked up their first point of the season in a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest last time out.
However, they are still yet to score in the league, with Omar Marmoush seeing two golden chances go begging in the draw with Forest, who had a potential winner disallowed for a handball against Neco Williams.
In total, Spurs, who enjoyed a blockbuster transfer window, have had 37 shots worth 2.6 expected goals (xG) without success, but De Zerbi is confident that once the first goal – and win – comes, his team will be flying.
“[We can improve in the final third] with meetings, watching, analysing together with the players,” he said.
“Also, I think winning the games because, you know, the confidence, the enthusiasm, it can be crucial to find the right decision. I love these players.
“I spoke about Marmoush; we have to analyse if he has, or not, 15, 12 goals. I think yes, because he has all the qualities, enough to score that number of goals.
“He has to improve, of course, like Dominic Solanke. I think if Domi is fit, is in the best physical condition, the chance he had was completely different.”
Back together on Saturday pic.twitter.com/b7NBbpnkWO
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 9, 2026
Everton, meanwhile, are unbeaten so far this league campaign, following up an opening-day win over Crystal Palace with back-to-back last-gasp draws against Bournemouth and Manchester United.
They snatched a point at the death against United, having twice come from behind, with debutant Ainsley Maitland-Niles getting the all-important equaliser.
He was a deadline-day signing from Lyon on an otherwise disappointing day after Everton’s approach for Folarin Balogun collapsed.
While fans were left frustrated by their transfer business, David Moyes remains confident his squad can continue to build on their strong start.
“They know the size of the squad we’ve got,” he said about the fans. “But sometimes it gives players an opportunity to show what they can do.
“Sometimes, having too many players in the camp gives you problems behind the scenes; squads are too big, and players moan because they aren’t in it.
“Players will be given opportunities, and that’s where they will be judged in how they do.”
Mathys Tel has completed more dribbles than any other player in the Premier League this season (10).
Only Pedro Porro (six) has attempted more shots than Tel (five), though the Frenchman has generated just 0.2 expected goals (xG) as Spurs continue their search for a first league goal of the campaign.
Maitland-Niles scored on his Premier League debut for Everton last time out, having netted in just one of his previous 109 appearances in the competition.
Only three players have scored in both of their first two for Everton – Brian McBride (2003), Romelu Lukaku (2013) and Richarlison (2018).
Knowing what it takes to be a Toffee. pic.twitter.com/kcWsivoT2Q
— Everton (@Everton) September 8, 2026
Spurs have only lost one of their last 17 Premier League home games against Everton (W12 D4), winning their last five since a 0-1 defeat in September 2020.
However, they are one of three teams yet to score in the Premier League this season, along with Aston Villa and Coventry City. Spurs have never failed to score in any of their first four league games in a single campaign before.
They last went four without a goal between August and September 2006, a run which included a 2-0 home loss to Everton.
But Everton lost both Premier League meetings with Spurs last season by an aggregate score of 4-0, but have never lost three in a row to them without scoring in their league history.
The Toffees remain unbeaten in the Premier League so far this season (W1 D2), netting stoppage-time equalisers in their last two games. However, Everton are winless in their last six away league games, alternating between defeat (three) and a draw (three) each time.
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