Tottenham Hotspur beat Everton 2-1 to move up to fourth, dropping Manchester City to fifth and ending the Toffees’ four-game winning streak in the Premier League.
Richarlison and Son Heung-min scored before Andre Gomes produced a nervy finish at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with his first Premier League goal since February 2019.
The hosts were indebted to goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who made seven saves and somehow kept out substitute Arnaut Danjuma’s effort in the final minute of stoppage time at home.
How did the match go?
Spurs took the lead in the ninth minute when Richarlison headed home Brennan Johnson’s low cross for his fourth Premier League goal in three Premier League games, after a run of just two in his previous 39 appearances for the club.
It made Richarlison the 13th different player to score against Everton in the Premier League having previously played for the Toffees in the competition, and the first since Joshua King in 2021.
Johnson then missed a great chance to double the lead moments later, but by the 18th minute it was 2-0. Jordan Pickford saved Johnson’s shot in the box but the rebound fell to Son, who finished first after five Everton men for his 11th goal of the season, behind only Erling Haaland’s 14 in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boots.
Things got worse for Everton in the 24th minute when Idrissa Gueye injured himself in a challenge on Richarlison and was forced off. With Abdoulaye Doucoure already injured and missing the game, Sean Dyche brought on Gomes for his first Everton appearance since May 2022.
Despite Spurs’ lead, Everton outscored their home team eight out of five in the first half, with Vicario in fine form to save Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header, James Garner’s shot and Jack Harrison’s great chance on the break in the additional time.
Vicario was eventually beaten six minutes after the break, but Everton were denied a game-worthy goal as Calvert-Lewin’s strike was disallowed after VAR intervention due to Gomes’ foul in the build-up.
Everton continued to look dangerous, with Garner clipping a post just after the hour mark, while at the other end Pickford made a fantastic save from Dejan Kulusevski.
Finally in the 82nd minute, Everton scored. A corner was not taken and Gomes fired home from a narrow angle for his first goal in four years.
It was all Everton from then on, with the Toffees going all-out on the attack, bringing on Beto and former Spurs man Danjuma, and the latter twice came close to grabbing a late point.
First, he was denied by a flying save from Vicario before, deep into six minutes of stoppage time, hitting the woodwork with a shot that bounced off the line through the Spurs keeper.
![Spurs - Everton GDS](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2023/12/23/5ce583df-9c2e-41b6-9776-45d4094733c4/Screenshot-2023-12-23-171126.png?width=1400&height=800)
![Spurs - Everton GDS](https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2023/12/23/5ce583df-9c2e-41b6-9776-45d4094733c4/Screenshot-2023-12-23-171126.png?width=1400&height=800)
A third straight win for Spurs means they end Everton’s four-game run and move up to 36 points, three clear of top-placed Liverpool-Arsenal.
A sour note for them, however, will be the withdrawal of Cristian Romero at half-time with an apparent injury that left him iced on the bench during the second half.
Everton, meanwhile, remain in 16th place, four above the relegation zone.
See: Spurs Report | Everton report
The next five Premier League games
You knew that?
Spurs have scored in 30 consecutive league games for the third time in their history, following streaks of 32 that ended in 1949 and 1962.
Spurs have won more Premier League games against Everton than any other team (30).
Everton manager Sean Dyche has never beaten Spurs away from home in the Premier League, with one draw and six defeats, seeing his side score three goals and concede 17 in return.
Son Heung-min scored his 11thu goal at 18u game of the season in the Premier League, surpassing his tally for the whole of last season (10 goals, 36 apps).