PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 19TH JANUARY, 2025
(2PM)
EVERTON 3(3) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0)
Everton scorers:-
Calvert-Lewin, 13
Ndiaye, 30
Gray (o.g.), 45+7
Spurs scorers:-
Kulusevski, 77
Richarlison, 90+2
Attendance:- 39,326
Referee:- Darren England
Assistants:- Marc Perry, Akil Howson
Fourth official:- Tony Harrington
VAR:- John Brooks
Assistant VAR:- Scott Ledger
Teams:-
Everton (4-2-3-1):- 1. Pickford; 15. O'Brien (sub 5. Keane, 88), 6. Tarkowski (Capt.), 32. Branthwaite, 19. Mykolenko; 8. Mangala, 27. Gueye; 29. Lindstrom (sub 18. Young, 70), 16. Doucoure, 10. Ndiaye (sub 2. Patterson, 81); 9. Calvert-Lewin
Subs not used:- 12. Joao Virginia, 31. Begovic; 45. Armstrong, 11. Harrison; 14. Beto, 67. Sherif
Booked:- Calvert-Lewin (foul on Dragusin), Doucoure (delaying free kick)
Spurs (3-4-3-1):- 31. Kinsky; 14. Gray, 6. Dragusin (sub 9. Richarlison, 46), 33. Davies; 23. Pedro Porro, 29. Sarr (sub 47. Moore, 73), 15. Bergvall, 24. Spence; 21. Kulusevski, 10. Maddison; 7. Son (Capt.),
Subs not used:- 40. Austin; 3. Reguilon, 79. Hardy; 64. Olusesi, 18. Yang Min-hyeok; 42. Lankshear, 63. Ajayi
Booked:- Bergvall (foul on Calvert-Lewin)
Only Spurs could make Everton look this good
Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture
Spurs woes were increased yesterday when rumours spread regarding a knee injury to Dominic Solanke. Post-match, Ange Postecoglou confirmed that Solanke would be out for weeks. Pre-match he had advised us that both Bissouma and Johnson were doubtful. Hence, we started another game with 10 absentees through injury. We did see the return of Ben Davies at the back.
The level of injuries is unprecedented in my experience, but this does not excuse a pathetic first-half performance that allowed Everton to score three goals. They'd only managed three league wins until now and had only scored one league goal in their last six matches. Everton's last home league win over Spurs was just over 12 years ago when David Moyes was in charge for his last season before taking over at Old Trafford. Only Spurs could make "The Toffees" look this good. We became tragically unstuck.
Despite Solanke's absence there was still no place for Richarlison in the starting line-up. I assume he is still gaining match fitness. Ange tried a different formation - a back three - although that would not have been evident to casual observers, as the line was so high as to leave one of the three (Gray) exposed on one occasion in particular. The Spurs defence was too open. The midfield lacked physicality and experience against the likes of Doucoure, Gueye and Ndiaye. Son didn't make the most of his few opportunities.
Yesterday, I watched Bournemouth beat Newcastle 4-1 with a refreshing attacking style which often put five or six of their players QUICKLY in or around their opponents' box. Spurs' persistence in the play-out is too slow and pedantic for them to be effective. Just as at The Emirates on Wednesday, only when it was too late did Spurs play in a positive fashion, and that did reap two goals. It was too little too late.
Despite the level of injuries, I declare now that I am an "Ange out" man. His style of football tires me, and I now worry deeply about our prospects this season. Ange stated after the game that Bissouma is a week away from fitness and Johnson won't be available for weeks either. Reguilon and Spence were not registered for the Europa League, so he's going to be struggling to muster a team for Hoffenheim next Thursday. We had six teenagers on the bench today. One of them - Mikey Moore - came on to good effect.
Moyes was not without his selection issues. He had two goalkeepers and also two teenagers on the bench. Having lost his first game since his return on Wednesday, this was his first win in his second game.
As always, Spurs huddled before kick-off, but that hasn't been at all effective of late. We played towards the Gwladys Street end, but Everton kicked off. Spurs players wore black armbands in memory of Garry Brooke, whose passing was announced yesterday, but Everton wore black armbands too. Perhaps all were in memory of Denis Law, who also passed away this week.
Spence made an early advance, stealing the ball off Jake O'Brien, who was making his first Premier League start since signing last summer. Spence's cross was intended for Son, but a corner was the result. Spence was soon to be in error after a Spurs throw and Everton's Jesper Lindstrom (on loan from Antonio Conte's Napoli) hit a shot which Kinsky saved with his right hand, conceding a corner. The assistant referee disappeared before the corner could be taken with a "technical" problem. It was one which necessitated a trip down the tunnel!
The travelling fans used the hiatus in play to chant, "We want Levy out" and "I don't care about Levy." We were still level at this point!
Dragusin blocked a shot by Ndiaye after a mis-placed pass across the midfield by Bergvall. Everton soon had the lead after another error in midfield. This one was by Sarr. Gueye passed inside to Calvert-Lewin, who hadn't scored since September. He made three defenders look silly with a turn to the left, then right, before planting a shot past Kinsky. There had been a suggestion of a handball in the build-up to the goal, but this was not reviewed.
Tarkowski denied Son in the Everton box, but once again our captain had not been quite quick enough on the ball. Spence won another corner on the left after an Everton error. Pickford pushed away Son's in-swinging corner, after which Spence had a shot blocked and Pedro Porro won another corner.
In another move, Pedro Porro found Kulusevski with a good ball. Dejan passed inside to Son, but his shot was comfortable for Pickford. Kinsky soon had to save with a dive to the right from Calvert-Lewin who had evaded the Spurs high line. Kinsky then pushed Mangala's shot onto the post before he held a header by Calvert-Lewin.
Pickford saved again from Son after a Kulusevski pass. Son is still getting boos from the Goodison Park crowd over that injury to Andre Gomes in November 2019.
Everton went two up on the half-hour. Ndiaye took Gueye's pass and made a bee-line to the Spurs area. Dragusin was in pursuit but was twisted left and right before Ndiaye hit a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
Bergvall hit a shot over the target after another Kulusevski pass. Bergvall was booked for a foul on Calvert-Lewin, who subsequently saw yellow for wounding Dragusin in an aerial challenge. Dragusin was bleeding and needed lengthy treatment.
Seven minutes of added time was announced, but this would be longer as Dragusin was still being treated. Kinsky had to save a diving header by Tarkowski and after a subsequent corner and long cross from the right which went beyond the back post, Tarkowski headed back into the goalmouth. Calvert-Lewin got a touch, and the unfortunate Gray deflected the ball into his own net. I think the last time we were three down at the interval to Everton was in 1977.
Ange brought on Richarlison for Dragusin after the break and we reverted to a back four of Pedro Porro, Gray, Davies, and Spence. Son moved to the left side. Spurs were getting forward more and enjoying more of the possession, but Pickford wasn't being tested.
Everton had the first real chance of the half when Calvert-Lewin headed wide after a free kick, from 16 yards out. Maddison won a corner at the other end from deep inside the box. Mykolenko fired wide after Ndiaye's pass. More poor (almost suicidal) play-out play left Calvert-Lewin on the ball inside the area and in space. Thankfully, he missed the target.
Time was moving on and after 72 minutes Maddison hit his right-footed shot wide after a cut-back by Spence. A Kulusevski cross from the right passed outside the far post. Kulusevski did score after Pickford chased Maddison out of his 6-yard area to the left of goal. The ball reached Moore who was challenged and the ball fell to Kulusevski who scored with a clever lifted shot into the far corner.
Mikey Moore was causing more problems on the left (why didn't he start?) and after another cross, Richarlison had two shots. The first was blocked and the second was hit into Pickford's hands. Richarlison did score in added time at Pickford's left post, making contact with Moore's deep cross following a quickly take Son corner. Ominously, Richie was limping after he scored, but did seem to recover. Spurs couldn't manage a third goal in the remaining two minutes, so Everton drew within four points of us. We remain in fifteenth place. Even after a run of seven consecutive defeats, Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester must fancy their chances against us next week. I wouldn't back us to beat anybody at the moment.
. John Ellis reports from Goodison Park
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
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