David Moyes’ Everton ripped through Tottenham’s terrible defending in the first half at Goodison Park to set up a 3-2 victory which drags Ange Postecoglou’s side into the relegation battle.
The home fans celebrated with a hint of disbelief as the second-worst performing attack in the division feasted on Spurs’ shocking vulnerability at the back.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin hadn’t scored here in the Premier League since August. He twisted teenager Archie Gray this way and that before stroking in his first goal in 17 matches.
After an Orel Mangala shot was pushed onto the post, Iliman Ndiaye was soon breezing past Radu Dragusin to slam in a second. “Spurs have been all over the place,” said former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson on Sky Sports. “The defending from Dragusin is unacceptable.”
It got even worse in first-half stoppage-time, with Gray hooking the ball into his own net. The Everton fans had not seen anything like this since February 2017, when they netted three in the first 45 minutes against Bournemouth. Everton had only scored 15 goals in their 20 league games before Sunday.
It should have been 4-0 early in the second half when Calvert-Lewin spun and shot wide when again given time and space in the box. Inevitably, Everton then made life difficult for themselves in the final stages.
Dejan Kulusevski gave the travelling fans something to cheer when he chipped in nicely after Jordan Pickford had darted off his line. And Everton old boy Richarlison added another in stoppage-time from close range. But Everton saw it through to deliver a morale-boosting first league win under returning boss Moyes.
The Spurs supporters aired their displeasure throughout and repeatedly called for chairman Daniel Levy to leave the club. The work of Postecoglou will also come into sharp focus after this.
Yes, Spurs’ absentee list is long – with Dominic Solanke now out with a knee problem – but the overall picture has not looked good for a long time.
There is the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg lead to cling to at Anfield, but Spurs have been taken to extra-time at Tamworth, defeated in the north London derby, and now humbled at Everton since that standout win over Liverpool.
With one win in 10 Premier League games and the gap to the bottom three just eight points – and four to Everton – Tottenham are in crisis.
More to follow.
Everton’s first-half blitz
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin gives Everton an early lead against Tottenham in the Premier League.
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Iliman Ndiaye doubles Everton’s lead against Tottenham in the Premier League.
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Archie Gray scores an own goal to put Everton 3-0 up against Tottenham before half-time.
