Everton eased their relegation worries with a narrow 3-2 win against error-riddled Tottenham Hotspur, increasing the pressure on Ange Postecoglou.
The Toffees had not beaten Spurs at Goodison Park since 2012, when Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic sealed a memorable comeback win for David Moyes in injury time.
Moyes’ return to the Everton dugout didn’t go to plan against Aston Villa during the week, but there was a very different feeling on Merseyside when Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring with a clever low finish after good work from Idrissa Gueye.
Calvert-Lewin had gone 16 games without a goal but showed immense confidence to turn over Archie Gray and Ben Davies before wrong-footing goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Tottenham were without striker Dominic Solanke, who suffered a knee injury in training, and should have equalized 10 minutes later through Son Heung-min, but his tame attempt from a Dejan Kulusevski setback was canceled out by Jordan Pickford. Soon after, the Spurs captain was made to pay for his profligacy as Everton ruthlessly exploited more pupils defending against the visitors.
Iliman Ndiaye turned behind Gray and after Radu Dragusin failed to tackle the 24-year-old, he strolled into the box with a little trick before firing a shot past Kinsky and into the roof of the net.
Orel Mangala had hit the post before Ndiaye’s goal, but Everton could not be prevented from scoring a third before half-time as the unfortunate Gray, who was part of a back three alongside the unfortunate Dragusin and Ben Davies, missed a shot from Calvert-Lewin It was deflected into the six-yard box.
Spurs brought Richarlison on at the break for Dragusin – who had suffered a serious blow to the head at the end of the first half – but James Maddison’s high and long shot with just over 15 minutes left was their first ever attempt in 40 minutes .
Spurs, perhaps realizing how ordinary their performance had been, got on the scoresheet moments later through Kulusevski – the Swede’s exquisite chip over a wall of Everton players a moment of real quality.
Everton, an attacking threat throughout, retreated into their shell as Moyes made defensive substitutions and former hero Richarlison set up the grandstand finish when he converted Mikey Moore’s cross from point-blank range.
However, Everton held on and secured a big win to move four points clear of Ipswich Town ahead of their clash with Manchester City at Portman Road.
*Reviews provided by FotMob*
player | Evaluation |
|---|---|
GK: Jordan Pickford | 6.7/10 |
RB: Jake O’Brien | 7.0/10 |
CB: James Tarkovsky (c) | 7.7/10 |
CB: Jarrad Branthwaite | 7.1/10 |
LB: Vitalii Mykolenko | 6.7/10 |
CM: Orel Mangala | 7.4/10 |
CM: Idrissa Gana Gueye | 8.7/10 |
RM: Jesper Lindstrom | 7.9/10 |
AM: Abdoulaye Doucoure | 6.6/10 |
LM: Iliman Ndiaye | 8.0/10 |
CF: Dominic Calvert Lewin | 8.4/10 |
SUB: Ashley Young (70′ for Lindstrom) | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Nathan Patterson (81′ for Ndiaye) | N/A |
SUB: Michael Keane (88′ for O’Brien) | N/A |
Substitutes not used: Asmir Begovic (TW), Joao Virginia (TW), Harrison Armstrong, Jack Harrison, Beto, Martin Sherif.
*Reviews provided by FotMob*
player | Evaluation |
|---|---|
GK: Antonin Kinsky | 6.5/10 |
CB: Archie Grey | 4.7/10 |
CB: Radu Dragusin | 5.1/10 |
CB: Ben Davies | 6.0/10 |
RWB: Pedro Porro | 7.0/10 |
CM: Dad Sarr | 6.6/10 |
CM: Lucas Bergvall | 7.2/10 |
LWB: DJed Spence | 7.4/10 |
AM: Dejan Kulusevski | 7.8/10 |
AM: James Madison | 6.7/10 |
ST: Son Heung-min (c) | 6.6/10 |
SUB: Richarlison (46′ for Dragusin) | 6.9/10 |
SUB: Mikey Moore (74′ for Sarr) | 6.8/10 |
Substitutes not used: Brandon Austin (TW), Malachi Hardy, Callum Olusesi, Min-Hyeok Yang, Sergio Reguilon, Damola Ajayi, Will Lankshear.