Everton were looking to bounce back from their home defeat at Manchester United, which ended their seven-game unbeaten streak. The last time these two sides faced each other at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, the Toffees were humiliated to a 5-0 defeat. Frank Lampard’s men succumbed to a 2-0 defeat, their second in a row after the loss to Manchester United as Everton slipped to 14th in the table.
Everton went into this game with a four game unbeaten streak away from home. Frank Lampard was forced to make one change as Anthony Gordon missed the game due to suspension and Dwight McNeil came in place of him. Everton lined up in 5-3-2 shape with Demarai Gray and Neal Maupay up top.
The early defensive resilience from Everton stopped Tottenham from making much of their chances as Spurs dominated possession and pushed the Toffees to the backfoot. The hosts were superior in the first half but it was Everton who had the two best chances of the first half but the Toffees weren’t clinical enough to take the lead.
The second half was also a similar story where Tottenham dominated the ball but couldn’t get past the resistance of Everton until Pickford gave away a penalty. The Toffees continued to struggle to get on the ball in the second half. The introduction of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and James Garner didn’t help as Everton remained second best. The second Spurs goal late in the second half killed the game and guaranteed the three points to Antonio Conte’s troops.
Everton player ratings vs Tottenham
Jordan Pickford – 6
Jordan Pickford had to make one save in the first half, using his feet to stop Harry Kane after the England striker evaded Vitaliy Mykolenko and Idrissa Gueye. The England No.1 remained on his toes but didn’t have to produce too many saves in the first half.
Pickford pulled off a brilliant save from Kane’s volley in the second half, keeping the game at 0-0. The Englishman made a save from Son’s shot but the rebound almost fell to Kane. Pickford lunged to get the ball, coming in Kane’s way and giving away a penalty. England’s No.9 did not miss from 12 yards, giving Spurs the lead. He couldn’t have done anything to save Hojbjerg’s effort as Tottenham secured the three points.
Defence:
Seamus Coleman – 6
Seamus Coleman turns 34 this week and the game against Spurs was his 400th appearance in English football. He was tasked with neutralizing Heung-Min Son and Ivan Perisic, who were providing constant threat from Spurs’ left side. Coleman did have half an effort at goal, taking the shot from outside the box, only to be blocked by Son.
The Irishman had a difficult evening dealing with the pace and precision of Son and Perisic. The 33 year old came off for Garner as he looked to be running out of gas.
James Tarkowski – 7
James Tarkowski dealt well with an early threat of a long ball to Harry Kane. Soon, he nicked the ball in time to stop Kane from getting a header at goal from Son’s challenge. The Englishman was superb in keeping Kane silent throughout the first half, making crucial challenges and interceptions.
Tarkowski was vigilant in the second half too, running shoulder to shoulder with Kane to prevent another goal. Tarkowski’s crucial challenge on Perisic denied Spurs the third goal.
Conor Coady – 6
Conor Coady and Tarkowski shared the duties to negate Kane’s movement and threat in front of the goal and looked sharp in the first half. Coady remained disciplined and alert but in the end Everton’s backline was broken as Tottenham walked away with three points.
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 6
Had the challenge of tracking his former teammate Richarlison on the right. The Ukrainian rose to the challenge and executed his defensive duties well in the first half. At times, former Everton attacker Richarlison got the better of him but Mykoelnko remained defensively sound.
Mykolenko had a very silent second half and had very little to contribute while going forward as the Toffees struggled to get the ball.
Midfield:
Idrissa Gueye – 6.5
Idrissa Gueye did exactly what was expected from him, protecting the rearguard and putting pressure on Tottenham outside the Everton box, to win the ball back. Gueye had to do a lot of hard work in the second half too, but the Senegalese could’ve been more impactful from his defensive midfield position. He was taken off for Salomon Rondon in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Amadou Onana – 7
Amadou Onana put in a perfectly timed tackle on Bentancur to stop a Spurs attack. Onana had a golden opportunity to put Everton in the lead in the late first half as Onana capitalized on Spurs’ mistake and broke on the counter. He was clear on goal and had the best chance of the first half but his shot had too much power and was over the bar.
Onana’s energy couldn’t be of use to Everton in attack as the Toffees weren’t incisive enough and lacked the ability to get forward with the ball. He did put a defensive shift.
Alex Iwobi – 6
Alex Iwobi has been the heartbeat of the team this campaign and has been an asset going forward. The Nigerian had three assists before coming into the game but the first half performance wasn’t quite eventful as the Toffees had to defend more instead of launching attacks.
Overall, not the best of the days for Iwobi, a stark contrast to what we have been seeing this season from the former Arsenal man. He was dispossessed and couldn’t operate with the freedom he would’ve liked.
Attack:
Dwight McNeil – 5.5
Dwight McNeil came back to the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the last game. McNeil didn’t have many chances to get forward and showcase his skills. McNeil did show some threat from dead ball situations but overall the former Burnley man lacked the sharpness to cut in forward and pose any threat.
Neal Maupay – 6
Neal Maupay starting meant that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not quite match-fit to commit 90 minutes. The Frenchman was often cut a lonely figure with no chance to push forward and make an impact in front of the goal. Barely had any clear cut chance throughout the game but continued to do his job until he was taken off for a fresh Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Demarai Gray – 6
Demarai Gray started alongside Maupay in the front two, not his natural position, but the former Leicester City man has been familiar with playing as a part of the front two. Gray had Everton’s first clear cut chance of the first half as he evaded Rodrigo Bentancur and galloped towards the goal only to sky his shot over the bar. Gray’s presence withered in the second half and was almost anonymous in the second half.
Substitutes:
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 6
Came on for Maupay in the 66th minute to find the equalizer. His presence didn’t change the course as he hardly had any chance in front of the goal.
James Garner – 6
James Garner came on for captain Coleman, prompting a change in shape with Iwobi dropping into a right back role. Garner supplied a delicious ball into the Tottenham box but that was collected by Hugo Lloris.
Salomon Rondon – N.A
Salomon Rondon came on in the final ten minutes in place of Gueye as the Toffees scrambled for an equalizer.