Tottenham flew out of the traps and held on to beat Everton and make it three wins on the spin.
Richarlison and Heung-min Son put Tottenham 2-0 up early on but Everton had chances throughout and dominated the season half as Andre Gomes pulled one back to set up a tense finish.
Guglielmo Vicario made a string of fine saves to deny Everton what would have been a well-earned point, as Tottenham recorded three-straight wins and are on 36 points for the season. Everton remain on 16 points.
Lucky Tottenham need defensive balance with core hit hard
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham were excellent early on and raced into a commanding 2-0 lead but they almost scored too early. After Everton battled back into the game before half time, Spurs then lost influential center back Cristian Romero to injury (he was seen icing his hamstring on the bench) and things fell apart in the second half. Everton should have at least got a point from this game as Vicario made top saves, Everton wasted chances and a close VAR call was on Tottenham’s side. We know Postecoglou will not change his playing principles and whoever lines up at the back for Spurs will be asked to keep a high line and keep on taking risks. They tired badly in the second half, just like they have for most of this season, and it makes you wonder if Spurs can tweak their play to be a more balanced unit. With Romero out, plus Micky van de Ven working his way back and the duo of Sarr and Bissouma set to miss most of January, Tottenham’s defensive unit has lost its core and they got away with one against Everton. It’s also true that Spurs played well and lost plenty of games they didn’t deserve to in the aftermath of that damaging defeat to Chelsea in November. Against Everton the opposite was true and they got away with it. There’s never a dull moment with Ange-ball and he will be praying Romero isn’t out for long and Skipp and Hojbjerg can somehow hold things together in central midfield over the next few months.
Tottenham vs Everton player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can Vicario was in superb form to seal the win for Spurs, while Sarr was excellent in midfield and Johnson and Son were superb out wide too. For Everton, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin and substitutes Gomes and Danjuma were driving the Toffees forward in the second half.
What’s next?
Spurs head to Brighton on Thursday, Dec. 28, while Everton head to Man City on Wednesday, Dec. 27.
How to watch Tottenham vs Everton live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET, Saturday (December 23)
TV Channel: Peacock
Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
Tottenham vs Everton live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Full time: Tottenham 2-1 Everton
Spurs hold on for the win as Everton fought valiantly in the second half and can feel very unlucky to leave north London with nothing. Tottenham’s early blitz did the damage.
What a save from Vicario to deny Danjuma
It should be 2-2 right away. Danjuma’s deflected shot it pushed over by Vicario. Tottenham hanging on.
Great strike from Andre Gomes - Tottenham 2-1 Everton (82nd minute)
That goal was coming. A corner drops to Andre Gomes at the back post and he drills a shot into the far corner. Everton totally deserve that goal. Can they find an equalizer late on?
Pickford denies Kulusevski
After a great run forward Dejan Kulusevski is denied by Pickford as Spurs have weathered the Everton storm and have some control back in this game.
No goal as Everton thought they were back in it
Everton think they have pulled one back and it has been coming. Emerson Royal caught in possession by Andre Gomes who plays in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and he finishes across goal. Tottenham want a foul on Royal by Gomes and VAR takes a look and rules out the goal. Bit harsh on Everton but no goal.
Half time: Tottenham 2-0 Everton
Spurs took their chances early but Everton have had some brilliant opportunities with Calvert-Lewin and Harrison both going really close. Despite Tottenham’s lead, this should be an intriguing second half.
Everton are pressing for a way back into this game
Sean Dyche is enjoying what he’s seeing from his side as Garner is denied by Vicario after Mykolenko gets in but bizarrely a second ball on the pitch stops him from shooting on goal. Spurs have lost their way before half time and Vicario denies Jack Harrison who was played in over the top.
Spurs are flying and Son tidies up - Tottenham 2-0 Everton (18th minute)
Oh wow, Spurs are rampant. A short corner sees Johnson’s shot blocked and the ball bounces to Son and he scuffs a shot home through a crowded box. Sean Dyche is fuming with the defending from Everton on that one, and rightly so.
Lovely team goal from Spurs as Richarlison scores against the Toffees - Tottenham 1-0 Everton (9th minute)
Sumptuous football from Spurs, the great entertainers, as Sarr and Johnson set up Richarlison to slot home against his former club.
Tottenham lineup
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Royal; Sarr, Skipp; Johnson, Kulusevski, Son; Richarlison
Everton lineup
Pickford; Patterson, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Harrison, Onana, Gueye, Garner, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin
Tottenham focus, team news
James Maddison and Micky van de Ven remain out injured but are progressing and should return sometime in January. Yves Bissouma is suspended again after his second red card of the season and he will be miss four games as he won’t play again before he heads to the Africa Cup of Nations in January (Pape Matar Sarr will also be at AFCON). That means Postecoglou has to keep tweaking his midfield and with Kulusevski in great form drifting around, he will continue to play in the Maddison role and Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp are likely to start in the deeper areas. Tottenham often need to score a couple early to put themselves in a comfy position in games but you know no matter what happens Ange’s boys are going to go for glory at every opportunity. That is why they’re the team everyone wants to watch in the Premier League right now.
OUT: Yves Bissouma (suspension), Destiny Udogie (suspension), James Maddison (ankle - out until new year), Micky van de Ven (hamstring - out until new year), Rodrigo Bentancur (ankle), Ryan Sessegnon (thigh), Manor Solomon (knee), Ivan Perisic (knee)
Everton focus, team news
The Toffees have a few injury issues but they will get Idrissa Gana Gueye and Jarrad Branthwaite back for this game after they served their suspensions. Both have been extremely important to the defensive improvement of this side. The old adage of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ rings true for Dyche’s team selection. He will continue to manage Calvert-Lewin’s minutes and both Dobbin and Beto have been excellent chipping in with goals and minutes in attack in recent weeks. Everton should have plenty of chances on the counter at Tottenham and if they’re as clinical as they have been in recent weeks, this will be a great trip to north London for them.
OUT: Dele Alli (groin), Abdoulaye Doucoure (hamstring), Ashley Young (knock), Seamus Coleman (undisclosed)
