The challenge as always for Everton is whether they can breakthrough the Premier League glass ceiling that is otherwise known as the ‘Big Six’ and in turn rename that elite members club to the ‘Big Seven’
A look at their squad would not necessarily have you in a rush to be betting with JackpotJoy for this to happen, that said at the same time in Marco Silva they do have one of Europe’s hottest managerial prospects.
And this weekend he and his Everton squad will get the perfect opportunity to test themselves against one of the best clubs in the land, as they play host to a Tottenham side that continues to defy the critics.
Not many gave them a hope of qualifying for the Round of 16 in the Champions League and although they needed a huge favour from PSV Eindhoven, it is Mauricio Pochettino’s men who find their names in the hat for the next phase of the competition.
A position that Everton can only look on with great envy, especially when there used to be very similar parallels between both them and Spurs. For years the two clubs had to make do with being in the limelight of their local arch rivals.
For Everton read Liverpool and for Tottenham read Arsenal, however over the past few years there has been something of a power shift in North London what with Spurs finishing ahead of the Gunners in the past two seasons.
The debate as to who is the better team out of Tottenham and Arsenal is one that will never be resolved, at the same time though it is a much more open and shut case in terms of the battle for Merseyside supremacy.
Everton have been in Liverpool’s shadow for the best part of 30 years now and although their majority shareholder FarhadMoshiri has promised to ring the changes, it is a shift in dominance that is yet to materialise.
Something that arguably was not helped by the fact that their spending at the start of Moshiri’s reign was scattergun to say the least, add into the mix the upheaval that came with sacking not one, but two managers and you can see why they have struggled to get on an even keel with Liverpool.
The same however cannot be said for Tottenham, especially in terms of spending when you consider that they made no new singings over the course of the summer transfer window. Many felt that was going to be to the detriment to the club, but you wouldn’t know it looking at their recent performances.
Not only that but they have had one constant throughout, that of course being Mauricio Pochettino. If Marco Silva is one of Europe’s hottest managerial prospects, then it is fair to say that the former Espanyol and Southampton boss is the real deal.
And he will be looking to show why he is when he leads his Tottenham side into battle this weekend. Last season Spurs won here while only playing at half pace and although it might not be that comfortable this time around, the final outcome should ultimately be the same.