Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane. (Photo : Getty Images)
Everton FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC are set to clash in a match scheduled at the Goodison Park on August 13, Saturday to open their respective campaigns in the 2016-2017 Premier League season.
Despite having one of the best strikers in Europe with Romelu Lukaku and one of the most promising young center backs in John Stones, Everton still finished last season at 11th place in the English top flight's overall standings and had failed to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League competitions this coming term.
The team will feature a new head coach this season after former Southampton manager Ronald Koeman replaced Roberto Martinez, who was sacked last May following the Toffees' dismal finish.
Everton will still feature Lukaku and Stones in their season-opener despite a lot of rumors linking both players to various big name squads such as Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
Koeman is also set to introduce his new summer signings, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who are both expected to boost the team's campaign this season.
The Toffees are coming off a 0-1 loss to La Liga squad Espanyol for their final preseason match heading into the new season, as per the Mirror.
Meanwhile, last term's second runners-up Tottenham remains to be one of the strongest teams in the Premier League this season.
Last season's top scorer Harry Kane is still around while his usual supporting cast of Erik Lamela, Son Heung-min, and Christian Eriksen are still with head coach Mauricio Pochettino's side. Helping the offensive crew this season is £17 million signing Vincent Janssen from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.
On defense, Englishman Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier are back from their respective vacations as well as the Belgian duo of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.
The midfield is also deep with newcomer Victor Wanyama and mainstays Eric Dier, Dele Alli, and Nacer Chadli.
Tottenham dropped a 0-1 decision to Atletico Madrid in their final game in the 2016 International Champions Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia on July 29, via Goal. The Spurs lost both of their ICC matches.
Despite their dismal preseason, Pochettino's boys are still favored to win this season-opening encounter for both squads.
The predicted result is a close 1-0 win for Tottenham.
Everton starting lineup (5-4-1 formation): Stekelenburg; Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines; McCarthy, Barry, Barkley, Deulofeu; Lukaku
Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Wanyama; Son, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane
