Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham host in-form Everton on Sunday (1.30pm kick-off) with both sides looking to maintain their decent runs in the Premier League.

Spurs thumped Stoke City 4-0 in their last league outing to get back to winning ways following a 2-0 loss at Liverpool a week before, which now means that they have won seven of their last ten league matches.

Pochettino’s men have yet to lose a league game at White Hart Lane this term, winning 11 and drawing the other two, but they’ll have their work cut out against Ronald Koeman’s Everton, whose recent run of form has given them a genuine chance of finishing in the top four.

The Toffees have won six of their last nine league matches, drawing the other three, to move to within six points of Arsenal in fourth, and this is exactly the sort of game they need to win to gatecrash the Premier League’s top sides.

Koeman’s side comfortably beat Sunderland last week to consolidate seventh in the table, and given that they haven’t lost any of their last five away league games, they will be confident of getting a result at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

With the build-up well underway ahead of Sunday’s clash, we’ve analysed the THREE key battles which could go some way to deciding the outcome at White Hart Lane…

Toby Alderweireld vs Romelu Lukaku

Toby Alderweireld was forced off in Spurs’ 4-0 victory over Stoke City last weekend, and is a slight doubt for the visit of Everton.

The Belgian international has once again been in fine form for Pochettino’s side this term, helping them to the best defensive record in the league, yet if he is even slightly unfit on Sunday, his compatriot Romelu Lukaku will certainly take advantage.

The 23-year-old forward is the Premier League’s top-scorer alongside Harry Kane with 17 goals this season, including seven in seven games in 2017, and has all the attributes to make it an uncomfortable afternoon for the Spurs back three, notably Alderweireld if he’s not fully fit.

Nonetheless, Alderweireld is one of the best defenders in the division, and Lukaku is one of the best forwards, so whoever comes out on top in this battle will play a huge part in determining the outcome on Sunday.

Ben Davies vs Seamus Coleman

Danny Rose remains sidelined for Tottenham so Ben Davies will once again deputise at left wing-back against Everton this weekend.

The Welsh international has started their last three Premier League matches since Rose picked up a knee problem against Sunderland on January 31, and he has done reasonably well in his absence, most notably with a solid display against Stoke last time out.

However, should Koeman line up to match Spurs’ back three, Seamus Coleman will once again play right wing-back, which should provide for an interesting battle down the flank on Sunday.

The Republic of Ireland international has once again been one of Everton’s stand-out performers this term, and has excelled in the more advanced role of wing-back, with his energy and enthusiasm to get forward seeing him net once and lay on three assists in his last six league matches.

Both players like to get forward, and both are very adept defensively, so there isn’t going to be much to choose between them, yet those fine differences may well decide the outcome on Sunday.

Harry Kane vs Ashley Williams

Harry Kane is one of the most in-form strikers in Europe having netted three hat-tricks in his last nine Tottenham appearances.

His latest one came in their last Premier League outing against Stoke, and that has taken the England international to the top of the goal-scoring charts in the top-flight with 17, alongside Everton’s Lukaku.

His all round play has been superb in recent weeks, notably his link-up play with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, as well as his clinical finishing in the box, and that will certainly cause the Everton defence issues on Sunday.

However, Kane will come up against one of the most impressive defenders in the Premier League over the last few years in Ashley Williams on Sunday.

The Wales captain moved to Goodison Park last summer after eight years at Swansea, and based on the Swans’ defence struggles this term, it’s clear how vital he was to them during his time at the Liberty Stadium.

The 32-year-old has made a solid start to life on Merseyside, but he’ll have to be at his very best to thwart an in-form Kane on Sunday, although he does have the defensive capabilities to frustrate the English forward.

Nonetheless, Kane is in excellent form and could be the difference at White Hart Lane on Sunday.