Everton 0-3 Tottenham: Spurs scored a double from a set-piece for Micky van de Ven before Pape Sarr added a third for Thomas Frank’s side in the second half.
Captain Micky van de Ven scored two headers from the front, handing Everton their first defeat at the new stadium and Tottenham moving into third place with a 3-0 victory.
David Moyes’ side went from not conceding a league goal in the first half to conceding just two goals from a corner, allowing the visitors to benefit first from a good set-piece routine and then from their woeful markings.
Spurs manager Thomas Frank gave his first starting spot to on-loan Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, but Van de Ven’s double made him the team’s biggest threat, moving from not scoring at all last season to being the team’s top scorer with five goals.
Those goals, along with Pape Sarr’s late header, secured their 13th point from a potential 15 points and laid the foundation for them to move within five points of leaders and north London rivals Arsenal.
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It was a strange performance from Tottenham, who after taking the lead in the 19th minute shut themselves into their own shell and gave little hint of threatening again until their captain scored another goal in first-half stoppage time.
However, while Spurs made the most of their chances, the home side failed to make the most of their chances, despite having plenty of creativity from Iliman Ndiayi on the flanks, arguably the team’s best player, and the returning Jack Grealish.
Both players faced two opponents every time they won the ball, and although Ndiaye’s pace forced them in behind on several occasions, there was little danger in the middle.
The closest they came to scoring was when striker Beto miscontrolled Ndiaye’s cross and sent it to Grealish. Grealish’s goalbound shot was blocked almost on the line by Pedro Polo after just three minutes.
The team, which has scored nine goals in league games this season, needs to seize those chances, and if they fail to do so, it will be even more difficult to win games.
Mohamed Kudus’ cross to the far post crossed goal on Rodrigo Bentancur’s shoulder, van de Ven nodding in from close range and uncharacteristically collapsing for a corner.
Everton had the upper hand, but VAR suggested that Ndiaye and Grealish, who were in an offside position with Guglielmo Vicario in between, were interfering with the goalkeeper, and Jake O’Brien’s near post header was ruled out, disallowing the equalizer, although referee Craig Pawson, who reviewed the footage, agreed.
Despite Spurs barely scoring from open play, they continued to look dangerous from set-pieces, and even after Bentancur headed it over for a corner, Van Deven made no mistake after another after finding himself unmarked between Everton’s two centre-backs.
Everton had conceded as many goals in 52 minutes after adding seven points as they had in their previous five games at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, suggesting their scoring record was as good as it ended.
Ndiaye did his best to avoid formality, sending one shot wide, another deflected and rolling close to the posts on either side of his cross, and Beto’s overhead kick was snuffed out by the impressive Vicario.
Jordan Pickford made a good save from former Everton forward Richarlison, replacing Kolo Muani in a rare attack for Spurs, but they faced an attack led by 23-year-old Tierno Barry (who is yet to open his account since his £27 million move from Villarreal), but scoring more goals was not a concern for the visitors.
But Sarr nodded his head and had his seat vacated early after being teed up by Richarlison in the 89th minute.
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