Tottenham thrashed Everton to boost their UEFA Champions League hopes while piling tremendous pressure on Frank Lampard and the Toffees.
Tottenham made their case in the chase for a top-four finish with a resounding 5-0 victory over Everton. Harry Kane scored twice in a masterful performance, while Son Heung-min, Sergio Reguilon and a Michael Keane own goal condemned the Merseysiders to further misery.
Everton were the stronger side in the opening exchanges, although a quick move from Spurs led to Ryan Sessegnon sending in a hopeful ball across the six-yard box. Michael Keane was in the right place to defend, but his clearance found the back of his own net. After the opening goal, Tottenham wrested total control of the proceedings, piercing through the Everton backline.
Soon enough, Son got on the scoresheet and then, Kane followed with one to put the game past Everton’s reach. The second half began the same way, as substitute Reguilon found space with a direct run into the box to score the fourth Tottenham goal. Kane then latched on to a Matt Doherty ball and placed his volley beyond Jordan Pickford to cap off a five-star team performance.
The result keeps Tottenham in the mix for a top-four finish, as they went level on points with London rivals West Ham United. As for Everton, they remain in the 17th spot, just a point above 18th-placed Burnley. These are difficult times for Frank Lampard and his team, who are in tremendous danger. Here’s how the players fared in Tottenham’s 5-0 win over Everton.
Each of Tottenham’s last two Premier League wins against Everton has seen a former Chelsea manager beat another:
◉ 2020 – José Mourinho 1-0 Carlo Ancelotti
◉ 2022 – Antonio Conte 5-0 Frank LampardConte wins the battle of the Blues bosses in style. ? pic.twitter.com/WfEJzQZZLn
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 7, 2022
Tottenham Hotspur
Hugo Lloris: 5/10
Seeing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison in the Everton lineup, Lloris might have anticipated a stern test from the Merseysiders. Instead, the Tottenham captain just had to collect crosses and deal with practically nothing else during the game.
Cristian Romero: 6.5/10
For most parts, the Argentine kept Richarlison quiet and won many battles at the back. Romero got himself booked for a dangerous-looking challenge on the Brazilian forward, while Tottenham fans will be worried as he hobbled off with an apparent injury.
Eric Dier: 6.5/10
A commanding performance at the back from Dier, who did not let Calvert-Lewin get any sniff at the Tottenham goal. He controlled the area well and kept the Everton forwards in constant check. Also saw a header crash onto the crossbar as Spurs came close to scoring another.
Ben Davies: 7/10
Davies played a key part in the opening goal as he released Ryan Sessegnon for the cross. The centre-back did make several overlapping runs and at times played as a left-back to allow the wing-back to move into the final third.
Matt Doherty: 8/10
Doherty came up with his best performance in a Spurs shirt, as the full-back provided a tremendous presence on the pitch. He was a livewire on the right flank; the defender got himself an assist with a terrific ball for Kane to score his second of the match.
Matt Doherty’s game by numbers vs. Everton:
86 touches
11 duels contested
9 duels won
9 final third entries
5 tackles
4 ball recoveries
4 chances created
3 crosses
2 interceptions
2 assistsMaking that RWB spot his own. ? pic.twitter.com/PWEo5jixZ8
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 7, 2022
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: 7.5/10
Hojbjerg has gotten himself back into Conte’s plans, as the midfielder controlled the area. The Dane was quick to latch on to loose balls and was always available to turn over possession.
Rodrigo Bentancur: 7/10
Bentancur continued to deliver good performances and was pivotal to how Tottenham played. Along with Hojbjerg, the Uruguayan controlled the midfield area and relayed the ball smartly.
Ryan Sessegnon: 7.5/10
As Sessegnon put in an important performance, Conte’s plans for the wing-backs were perfectly executed. His contribution included setting up the first goal. Unfortunately for him, a knock early in the second half ended his evening, allowing Reguilon to continue his good work.
Dejan Kulusevski: 8/10
Dejan Kulusevski is the third different Tottenham player to provide 2+ assists in a Premier League game this season:
◎ Lucas vs. Palace (?️?️)
◎ Son vs. Man City (?️?️)
◉ Kulusevski vs. Everton (?️?️)He now has five goal involvements in six league games for Spurs. ? pic.twitter.com/uTzGngVWt0
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 7, 2022
Kulusevski looked a constant threat down the right flank while setting up Son for the second Tottenham goal. This is a signing on whom doubts were cast in January, but he is proving to be a sensational arrival.
Harry Kane: 10/10
Kane produced a fine performance, complete with two goals and a thorough all-round display. While he broke the offside trap for his first strike, Kane showed his striker’s instinct when finishing the volley for his second. The England captain needs to keep this form going for Spurs to finish fourth.
Harry Kane’s game by numbers vs. Everton:
53 touches
5 duels won
4 shots
3 touches in opp. box
2 shots on target
2 goals
1 big chance createdNow the sixth highest goalscorer in PL history. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/88bGLzJDEO
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 7, 2022
Son Heung-min: 7/10
Son could have helped his side to score more goals despite his well-taken strike. His decision-making was questionable, but he provided a threat in the final third.
SUBSTITUTES
Sergio Reguilon: 7/10
Reguilon made an immediate impact by scoring with his first touch in the game and then supported the attackers as the game wore on.
Davinson Sanchez: 6/10
Sanchez replaced Romero midway through the second half and kept things calm at the back.
Steven Bergwijn: 5/10
Bergwijn forced a good save off Pickford at the end and looked lively after replacing Son late in the game.
Everton
Jordan Pickford: 4/10
Pickford sat behind a shambolic backline and had his erronous moment when he could not save Son’s goal, which was hit straight at him. He had no chance whatsoever with the other strikes as Tottenham ran rampant.
Seamus Coleman: 3/10
Sessegnon and Son ripped through the right side of Everton’s defence, and Coleman was powerless throughout his time on the pitch. His pace was a big problem in the face of those attackers and Lampard could have deployed someone else there altogether from the start.
Mason Holgate: 2/10
Holgate had no awareness of what was going on around him as he looked lost in light of Spurs’ all-out attacking display. This was one of the worst performances in an Everton shirt from the centre-back.
Michael Keane: N/A
Keane scored the own goal to begin proceedings for Tottenham, then was taken off after Holgate smashed the ball on his face. His torrid time at the back continues as his performances at the heart of the Everton defence have been shambolic.
Jonjoe Kenny: 3/10
Kenny, like Coleman, suffered throughout the game as Kulusevski and Doherty ripped apart the full-back and never allowed him a breather to gather his thoughts.
Abdoulaye Doucoure: 5.5/10
He was one of the better performers in an Everton shirt, as Doucoure went about with his usual game. He made a few necessary tackles and provided good support on the ball, although he will be disappointed with his teammates’ response.
Allan: 3.5/10
It was not his night, although Allan did try taking control of the midfield. Hojbjerg and Bentancur were too good for the Brazilian to do anything about the game.
? Allan's last 5 Premier League appearances
? Aston Villa ?
? Newcastle ?
? Leeds
? Southampton ?
? Man City ?? No player has been booked more times in the PL in 2022 than Allan
? Allan carded and Kane to score 2+ goals, boosted to 18/1 ? https://t.co/eZb3Oibvl4 pic.twitter.com/h97UUnQqu9
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 7, 2022
Donny van de Beek: 2.5/10
The Dutchman’s display could be described as anonymous, as he failed to impact the game.
Anthony Gordon: 6/10
Gordon was one of the positive performers for Everton. Yet he could not gather his game around his dismal teammates and influence the match in any manner.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 3/10
Maybe, he should have stayed on the bench, as he does not seem sharp enough. However, given his past performances, Calvert-Lewin was too important a player not to play a game, especially when Everton are in a dire situation. But he was dismal on the field and failed to get anything out in the final third.
Richarlison: 2.5/10
Romero bullied Richarlison into submission, and the Brazilian was nowhere near even his average self. He failed to have any impact on the game as he struggled throughout.
SUBSTITUTES
Jarrad Branthwaite: 4/10
A pointless substitute in an attempt to freshen up things, and Branthwaite went about his game without making any impact.
Vitaliy Mykolenko: 4/10
A meaningful cameo, where he tried to make things happen from the left flank. But apart from getting a great reception when he came on the pitch, there was not much to write home about Mykolenko.
Dele Alli: 5/10
Another one who got a reception worth remembering, although Alli was as good as any other Everton player on the pitch, which paints the picture by itself.
