Tottenham thrash Everton in thrilling encounter

Harry Kane celebrates scoring Tottenham's third against Everton (Reuters)

Tottenham Hotspur showed the Premier League title race might not be just a two-horse affair with a hugely impressive 6-2 win at Everton on Sunday with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min both scoring twice.

Everton took the lead in the 21st minute when Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled the ball back to Theo Walcott who turned it past Hugo Lloris.

After Calvert-Lewin had a header harshly ruled out, Spurs drew level from an awful mix-up between Everton keeper Jordan Pickford and defender Kurt Zouma with South Korean Son doing well from a tight angle to curl the ball into the unguarded goal.

Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs grabbed the lead in the 35th minute when Dele Alli drilled home the ball after Son's shot was parried by Pickford.

Three minutes before the break, the visitors made it 3-1 when a Kieran Trippier free kick flew out off the post straight to Kane who gleefully converted.

Christian Eriksen made it 41 in the 48th minute when Kane's shot was blocked by Seamus Coleman and the Dane showed great technique as he drove the ball past Pickford from 20 metres out.

Everton responded though, three minutes later, with Gylfi Sigurdsson cutting across the edge of the area and reversing a shot into the bottom corner.

Any hope of an Everton revival was short-lived however as substitute Erik Lamela slipped in the superb Son who confidently drove past Pickford to make it 5-2.

The irrepressible Son then created the sixth, with his perfectly delivered cross from the left met with a textbook finish by the sliding Kane. Reuters

PREVIEW

What time does it start?

Everton vs Tottenham kicks off at 4pm (GMT)

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports’ Premier League and Main Event channels from 3:30pm. Sky Sports subscribers can also watch the game via the SkyGo app.

The match will also be available on NOW TV by grabbing a day pass for just £7.99.

Highlights will be shown at 10:30pm on BBC One.

Player to watch…

Dele Alli: The England midfielder was at his very best at Arsenal as he masterminded their EFL quarter-final win over the Gunners in midweek. Having played a perfectly-weighted ball over the top for Son Heung-min for the opener, he then impudently scored the second after receiving a similar ball from Harry Kane to the one he had played. He responded amusingly to the bottle being thrown at him, and will need to put in similar performances if Spurs are to keep their title hopes alive.

Form guide…

Everton: DWLDDL

Tottenham: LWWDWW

Odds…

Everton to win: 23/10

Tottenham to win: 5/4

Draw: 47/20

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

[23 December 2018 15:53 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

The warm-ups are done, the players are receiving their final instructions and the fans are making their way to their seats.

The final Premier League game before Christmas is less than ten minutes away...

[23 December 2018 16:00 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

The Premier League weekend concludes at Goodison Park - Everton vs Spurs is underway.

[23 December 2018 16:01 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

1 minute

Early possession with the home side, though Lucas Digne is swiftly dispossessed. It looks a 4-2-3-1 as listed for Everton.

Christian Eriksen on the left of Tottenham's midfield three, with Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son supporting Harry Kane further ahead.

[23 December 2018 16:02 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

2 minutes

Davinson Sanchez returns to action in physical fashion, colliding with Gylfi Sigurdsson trying to win a lofted Andre Gomes pass and conceding the free kick in the Everton half.

[23 December 2018 16:04 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

3 minutes

Richarlison cuts inside deep in his own half and tries the most ambitious of driven through balls, which skips over the damp turf and finds its way safely to Hugo Lloris' feet.

[23 December 2018 16:06 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

5 minutes

An odd backward header from Harry Winks puts Davinson Sanchez in strife, and the Colombian tests his recently-recovered hamstring against Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the Everton striker looks to profit.

Sanchez is grateful for his natural athleticism, powering away from the English striker to prevent further danger.

[23 December 2018 16:07 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

6 minutes

Andre Gomes gets a slight push in the back as he hits a diagonal towards Theo Walcott on the right, but the pass is well-directed nonetheless.

Walcott, on the slide, can't make sufficient contact to divert the ball back across goal. A bright start from Everton in the gloom of Goodison.

[23 December 2018 16:08 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

8 minutes

Another nervy moment for Harry Winks, just losing a bit of control of the ball and nearly allowing Gylfi Sigurdsson to nip in.

Spurs just struggling to find their feet early in this one, particularly in possession.

[23 December 2018 16:09 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

9 minutes

Tom Davies and Dele Alli tangle on the the halfway line, and the latter is whistled for the foul by referee Paul Tierney.

[23 December 2018 16:11 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

10 minutes

First chance, and Richarlison heads wide!

Gylfi Sigurdsson's reverse pass is nicely weighted for Theo Walcott and Richarlison has lost marker Kieran Trippier at the far post.

The Brazilian directs his header back across goal but it both evades two waiting teammates and hops past the post. Good chance.