As Tottenham Hotspur fans prepare for their last visit of Everton’s old Goodison Park, their midfielder James Maddison is in the middle of a debate in the media – not because of his input in terms of playing football, but the stuff surrounding it.Maddison made a memorable return from injury, not solely due to his usual flair and creativity on the field but also because of his presence and charisma. His comeback from injury injected energy into the Tottenham crowd during the match against Brentford on Wednesday. Additionally, he found himself in a quirky dispute with Neal Maupay over his dart-throwing goal celebration, which spilt over onto social media and continued late into the night.Furthermore, Maddison’s candid post-match TV interview showcased his charming personality, a rarity in modern football, where players often stick to safe and generic responses. While there may be reasons for this trend, Maddison’s presence adds a refreshing touch of personality to the Premier League, making the footballing experience more enjoyable. Of course, that’s only one side of the story. Not everyone enjoys that.’If we don’t win the league, it’s because of these two a**holes’Maupay scored the opening goal for Brentford on Wednesday and mocked Maddison’s trademark dart throw celebration. Maddison confronted him on the pitch, and later, Tottenham’s goalscorers mocked his celebration. Despite the backlash, the former Brighton forward kept his cool and continued to make jokes on social media, which prompted some pundits to ask whether players should engage in such antics. However, most fans were happy to see a couple of Premier League players have some fun.Spurs’ boss Ange Postecoglou was the one who was desperate to see the playmaker move from Leicester to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium so it’s no wonder he enjoys his displays.”He’s exciting to watch. He’s a creative player, and invariably, supporters love those players who can do something a bit different. Part of it is the way he carries himself. Madders likes to be, for want of a better term, in the spotlight. In the right way. He doesn’t shy away from the responsibility. He’s in the team to create and be a force, and he embraces that. I think our supporters enjoy seeing one of their own stand up in that kind of environment. So it’s a combination of things. And he’s just a loveable little rogue, mate. Apparently.”🎙️ 𝑶𝑵𝑬-𝑯𝑼𝑵𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑬𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻𝒀 🎯Neal Maupay, Richarlison and Brennan Johnson all hit James Maddison’s signature darts celebration after scoring in Tottenham 🆚 Brentford 🎯 pic.twitter.com/bg86f8BSbV— 433 (@433) January 31, 2024 Maddison demonstrated his worth to the manager by contributing three goals and six assists in the first 11 matches of the Premier League season. His return from an ankle injury, alongside Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, and the imminent return of Son Heung-min and Yves Bissouma from international duty has sparked optimism within the team.In the match against Brentford, Maddison took some time to regain his rhythm, but the 27-year-old ultimately played a pivotal role in the comeback victory. This win propelled Spurs to fourth place in the Premier League standings ahead of their test against Everton today (15.30 EAT).Everton’s manager, Sean Dyche, would have been satisfied with securing a draw against Fulham. However, the draw wasn’t enough to prevent Everton from sliding into the relegation zone after Luton’s thumping win over Brighton. Everton’s performance in the Premier League has been concerning, given that they have failed to win in their last five games, and have also failed to score in each of their last three matches. As a result, Everton needs to improve if they hope to turn their fortunes around at Goodison Park. The Toffees only won one of their last 22 league meetings with Tottenham, losing half of those. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7845166##Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gueye has returned to Everton after participating in the Africa Cup of Nations and is now available for selection, which should help alleviate the team’s central midfield injury concerns. Seamus Coleman, Amadou Onana, and Arnaut Danjuma will be evaluated, while Abdoulaye Doucoure and Andre Gomes are not expected to play.Meanwhile, the visitors have no fresh injury worries, and Pape Sarr is also eligible to play after Senegal’s elimination from the AFCON. However, Son Heung-min and Yves Bissouma are still on international duty. Most notably, Spurs’ deadly and funny dart thrower is back in form.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 23Saturday15:30: (3.05) Everton (3.50) Tottenham (2.40)18:00: (1.70) Brighton (4.00) Crystal Palace (4.80)18:00: (3.00) Burnley (3.45) Fulham (2.50)18:00: (1.43) Newcastle (4.60) Luton (7.25)20:30: (5.10) Sheffield Utd (4.00) Aston Villa (1.65)Sunday17:00: (1.70) Chelsea (3.90) Wolverhampton (5.50)17:00: (1.75) Bournemouth (3.60) Nott.Forest (4.90)17:00: (1.67) Man.Utd. (4.00) West Ham (5.60)19:30: (2.40) Arsenal (3.50) Liverpool (3.05)Monday23:00: (7.50) Brentford (4.90) Man.City (1.40)***odds are subject to change***
