Spurs' dominant heading ability guided by Thomas Frank sent the home side crashing down to reality at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The visitors inflicted the Merseyside club's initial loss at their new home thanks to three headed goals, a double from the outstanding defender, to climb to third in the top flight and continue their dominant performances away from home.
Dead-Ball Mastery Seals Win
A clear gap at the home ground stands in stark contrast to the ruthless efficiency of the London club on their travels. The Dutch defender scored from a pair of set-pieces before substitute the Senegalese midfielder banished any prospect of an Everton recovery with another near-post nod in the dying moments. Given the glaring absence of a quality striker in David Moyes’ squad, the prospect of an Everton comeback was unlikely even with the probings of their creative players. That makes 13 points from a available 15 for Tottenham on their travels so far this campaign.
Match Key Moments
The contest was shaped by corners and the defender's domineering presence at each end of the field. Everton matched Tottenham for attacking intent but had no answer to the quality of the visitors’ dead-ball crosses or their captain’s heading power. Jeers that greeted the half-time whistle were directed firmly at the match official, however.
Grealish almost started where he left off previously at Hill Dickinson Stadium by giving his team the lead from in the box. Excellent Iliman Ndiaye scorched past the full-back to set up the striker but, after the unfortunate forward missed the ball, Grealish arrived at the back post and saw a shot on target blocked in front of the line by Pedro Porro. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sliced the loose ball high and wide.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Xavi Simons both troubled the Everton defence as an open, flowing game allowed the respective midfields to impress. But it was a central defender who took centre stage. From a Mohammed Kudus corner delivered high to the back post, the Uruguayan guided the ball into the mixer with his shoulder for Van de Ven to head home from a yard out.
It was the first goal Everton have conceded from a dead-ball situation this term and Tottenham's first attempt on target. They then conceded two set-piece goals in added time when the away side's precision under Frank hurt Everton once more. Porro was the assister, this time from the left with a brilliant, vicious corner that demanded a conversion. Van de Ven applied it once the inswinging delivery flew over James Tarkowski and before the goalkeeper's fists could reach it. The defender’s two first-half headers must have come from a combined distance of very close range.
Controversial Call and Late Strike
Tottenham's second came during seven minutes of stoppage time mainly for the decision to rule out a towering header by Jake O’Brien moments after the first goal. The Everton defender believed he'd scored from a well-taken set-piece, delivered by the midfielder, and a headed effort that gave the keeper little hope in the Tottenham net. The home fans' joy were diluted when the VAR advised the referee to check the screen.
The joy turned to dismay when the match official deemed that Ndiaye and Grealish were both in an offside position and impeding the goalkeeper. The pair were clearly in an offside position when the defender made contact but the degree to which they interfered with the shot-stopper was highly debatable. Pawson’s on-field explanation was unheard due to the jeers that drowned him out.
Everton responded well to the setbacks, particularly after the second half began. Beto, who failed to read an excellent delivery across the face of goal from the attacker in the opening period, nearly made amends with an overhead kick from the Senegal international’s cross. Vicario produced an superb stop to prevent the striker. Tottenham's dedication to a shut-out was exemplified by João Palhinha putting his body in the way of Idrissa Gueye’s volley late on. The Brazilian should have extended the visitors’ lead when a lobbed pass caught out Tarkowski and left him through on goal, but Pickford made himself big to thwart the ex-Toffee.
Richarlison was heavily involved in Tottenham's final goal, however, cushioning a nod from a further precise cross into the danger area for Sarr to nod beyond Pickford.
