Tottenham secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League positions with a 2-1 victory over Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, courtesy of first-half goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min. Seeking to surpass Manchester City in the standings, who were away due to World Cup club duties, Tottenham achieved the win they needed.
Despite Everton’s ongoing recovery from a 10-point deduction, they started the day seven points clear of relegation, with a win potentially propelling them past Crystal Palace into 15th place. Tottenham capitalized on defensive lapses from Everton in the early stages, with Richarlison and Son Heung-min finding the net before the 20th minute.
In the second half, Dominic Calvert-Lewin saw an early goal disallowed for a foul by Andre Gomes in the build-up, but Gomes later scored in the 82nd minute from a corner. Despite late pressure from Everton, Tottenham held on for the crucial three points.
This victory propelled Tottenham into fourth place, trailing Liverpool by two points ahead of their upcoming clash with Arsenal. While Tottenham celebrated the win in the league campaign, concerns were raised about defensive vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need to tighten up at the back.
Brennan Johnson, the former Nottingham Forest player, earned the Player of the Match accolade for his outstanding performance down the right, causing problems for Everton throughout the first half. Tottenham will be eager to maintain this form as they continue their campaign, especially with the return of all their players.
Player Ratings:
– Tottenham: Vicario 6, Porro 6, Romero 6, Davies 6, Royal 6, Sarr 7, Skipp 6, Kulusevski 6, Johnson 8*, Richarlison 7, Son 7.
– Everton: Pickford 7, Patterson 6, Tarkowski 6, Branthwaite 6, Mykolenko 7, Onana 6, Gana 6, Garner 7, McNeil 7, Harrison 6, Calvert-Lewin 5.
Match Highlights:
– 9′ – Richarlison scores, putting Tottenham 1-0 ahead.
– 12′ – Brennan Johnson misses a chance for Tottenham.
– 18′ – Son scores from a corner, extending Tottenham’s lead to 2-0.
– 50′ – Calvert-Lewin’s goal is disallowed after a VAR review.
– 61′ – Garner has a chance for Everton, hitting the far post.
– 82′ – Andre Gomes scores for Everton, making it 2-1 with a brilliant connection from a corner.