Tottenham continues to produce results at home as they extend their record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to 5-0-0 in the 2022-23 Premier League season with a consummate 2-0 win over Frank Lampard’s Everton.
Goals from England star Harry Kane and Danish international midfield stalwart Pierre-Emile Højbjerg were enough to secure all three points for Spurs in front of home support, with Antonio Conte’s system providing results at a rate that has Tottenham alive and kicking in the race for the Premier League title.
In an overall dominant Tottenham display, both sides went into the half-time interval all square at 0-0 but Spurs continued to knock on the door in the second half before Kane was judged to have been brought down in the box by international teammate Jordan Pickford after the Everton shot-stopper bungled a routine save.
Kane was then happy to slam home his effort to put the home side ahead to give him goals in five straight league matches, which constitutes the best goalscoring form of his career.
The Toffees hardly looked like scoring in the second half overall but boasted the two best chances in the first forty-five minutes which they were unable to tuck home as part of the overall difference between both sides.
Spurs remained in control after Kane’s match-winner before Højbjerg dispatched the second goal on the evening for Conte’s men when his curling effort took a slight deflection and floated into the top corner just outside of Pickford’s reach.
After their 3-1 loss against bitter rivals Arsenal in the North London derby, the club is back on track without a hiccup on the domestic front and still looks odds-on favorites for another top-four finish at the very least.
Tottenham Player Ratings
GK: Hugo Lloris (6.5) - Barely tested on the night in what was an overall routine performance for the French number one, who will hardly say no to an easy day at the office.
RCB: Cristian Romero (7.5) - Another very good performance from the Argentine international who will go into the 2022 World Cup on the back of one influential outing after the next for Spurs.
CB: Eric Dier (7) - Strong again from the England center-back who is on course to place himself as one of the key defensive pieces for Gareth Southgate in five weeks’ time.
LCB: Ben Davies (7) - Starting on the left side of the back three for Davies is hardly uncommon but perhaps he has struggled to be consistent in that vein, but today was a good day for the Welshman.
RWB: Matt Doherty (7) - A strong outing from Doherty with some clever little moments as well in what was an effective performance to prove he can still bring the goods.
LWB: Ivan Perišić (7.5) - Despite the Croatian veteran being unable to add his name to the scoresheet in some capacity, it was another overall influential performance from him as a main attacking outlet on the left wing.
CM: Rodrigo Bentancur (7) - An assist from the Uruguayan to his midfield partner sealed the result for Spurs. Once again, Bentancur was effective in all phases of play in the Tottenham engine room.
CM: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (7.5) - Overall very good from the Dane once again while adding a goal to his CV this season as he continues his impressive midfield tandem with Bentancur.
RAM: Richarlison (6) - Another sub-par performance from the Brazilian international who is not producing the consistent levels of Dejan Kulusevski. Removed early due to picking up a knock.
LAM: Son Heung-min (6.5) - Perhaps a bit unlucky to not find the back of the net on the day in an overall quieter outing from the South Korean but Spurs were always comfortable without his goal influence.
CF: Harry Kane (7.5) - Bagged his ninth goal of the Premier League season from the spot and nearly turned creator on a handful of chances. A good display overall.
Sub: Yves Bissouma (6.5) - Decent from the Malian off the bench who will likely have to accept being a depth option at the club after Højbjerg and Bentancur continue to impress together.
Sub: Davinson Sánchez (6) - Unable to get a start over Davies in defense today is probably a tell-tale sign for the Colombian international as to his adjusted status at the club under Conte.
Sub: Lucas Moura (N/A) - Given less than two minutes while coming on as a substitute in stoppage time.
Sub: Djed Spence (N/A) - Given less than two minutes while coming on as a substitute in stoppage time.
Sub: Oliver Skipp (N/A) - Given less than two minutes while coming on as a substitute in stoppage time.
Everton Player Ratings
GK: Jordan Pickford (6) - A blunder from England’s number one that led to Kane’s match-winning penalty. Was decent overall but the error affects the rating for sure.
RB: Seamus Coleman (6.5) - A decent performance from the Irishman on the day overall but was unable to offer much in terms of play going forward, through no fault of his own.
CB: James Tarkowski (7) - A strong outing from the former Burnley man who has settled incredibly well at Everton since his summer arrival. His aerial presence remains a difference-maker.
CB: Conor Coady (6.5) - He has had better days at club level but he was hardly an area of concern. Against a Spurs side that can attack at pace, sometimes there is not much more you can do.
LB: Vitaliy Mykolenko (6) - A somewhat lackluster outing from the Ukrainian who also found his way into the book after receiving a yellow card but also was stripped of the ability to influence play in the forward positions.
DM: Idrissa Gueye (6.5) - Credible from the Senegalese midfielder who was a presence off the ball and in defense but was unable to truly command the midfield against the Bentancur-Højbjerg duopoly.
CM: Alex Iwobi (6) - Much has been made of Iwobi’s conversion into a central midfielder under Lampard but he struggled today against what was another strong outing from Spurs’ midfield duo.
CM: Amadou Onana (6.5) - Should really have scored when he found his way through on goal in the first half before his effort sailed over the bar. Decent overall on the day but will be disappointed.
RW: Dwight McNeil (6.5) - Combined well in certain phases but overall he was unable to prove a difference maker, largely down to Spurs’ dominance and a simple lack of time on the ball.
LW: Demarai Gray (6.5) - Tried to influence play with his ability to be direct when in possession and caused a headache or two for Spurs but could not find those extra one or two percentage points.
CF: Neil Maupay (6) - Just about the standard performance from Maupay as was seen at Brighton. Lively and presses from the front but so often unable to make a difference on an individual level.
Sub: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (6) - Isolated upfront after coming on in the second half through no fault of his own but had little opportunity to stamp his presence on proceedings.
Sub: James Garner (6) - Highly thought of at the club, Garner replaced Coleman to add some fresh legs down Everton’s right-flank but found himself pinned back just as the Irishman did.
Sub: Salomón Rondón (6) - Came on with just under 10-minutes remaining to add a second big body up front but hardly had a sniff at any opportunities to be a difference maker.
