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Tottenham thrash Everton in thrilling encounter

Kishan Vaghela,Harry Latham-Coyle
Sunday 23 December 2018 13:30 GMT
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Harry Kane celebrates scoring Tottenham's third against Everton
Harry Kane celebrates scoring Tottenham's third against Everton (Reuters)

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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)

GOAL! Everton 1-1 Tottenham (Heung-Min Son, 27 minutes)

A horrible mix-up, and Spurs are level!

Kurt Zouma has his eyes on Harry Kane's bouncing through ball and is not aware of Jordan Pickford, who comes charging out of his goal.

The pair collide and the ball squirms free, allowing Heung-Min Son to latch on to it.

There is still plenty for Son to do as the run of the ball had taken him very wide, but Son finishes with aplomb, curling brilliantly into the top corner of the empty net.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:26

30 minutes

There is so much space out there.

Both sides are struggling to disrupt attacks without their usual midfield destroyers, and there is a sense that a third goal could come at any point, from either team.

It won't come from there - Theo Walcott lashes wildly into the crowd from 20 yards.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:30

31 minutes

Again Harry Kane goes close!

He's had at least three good chances already and the latest comes as he combines with Dele Alli on the left edge of the box, cutting in and looking to find the bottom corner with a planted, side-footed finish.

But Kane's shot doesn't come back enough, crashing into the advertising hoardings beyond Jordan Pickford's left-hand post.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:31

32 minutes

A first caution of the afternoon.

It goes to Kieran Trippier, who only has eyes for the ball drifting through the air but catches Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the ribs with a raised boot as it floats towards the Everton striker.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:32

34 minutes

A game of pinball ends with Gylfi Sigurdsson in possession 35 yards from the Tottenham goal.

Theo Walcott is found by Sigurdsson but overhits his cross.

Goal kick.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:35

GOAL! Everton 1-2 Tottenham (Dele Alli, 35 minutes)

Spurs lead!

Moussa Sissoko plays a one-two with Dele Alli and slots a forward pass for Heung-Min Son to run on to.

Son fires across goal with his left foot and Jordan Pickford batters the shot away with his left hand, but that only sends the ball into Alli's path, arriving into the box and controlling his driven effort brilliantly to beat Pickford, who was perhaps a little unsighted.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:35

37 minutes

Andre Gomes has clearly been watching the Andros Townsend wonder-goal from yesterday as he tries something similar on his left boot.

Nowhere near the quality of Townsend's strike. It started high and wide and only got higher and wider.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:38

39 minutes

Moussa Sissoko pushes beyond a pair of Everton tacklers but then runs out of steam and out of ideas, turning in a circle and allowing Andre Gomes to take the ball.

Everton subsequently look for the pace of Theo Walcott on the right, but Harry Winks is there to help Ben Davies, and the Welsh left-back is fouled after winning the ball.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:40

40 minutes

Heung-Min Son is shorn of his right boot as Kurt Zouma treads on the South Korean's ankle.

25 yards from goal, right of centre. This is a very decent shooting opportunity...

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:41

GOAL! Everton 1-3 Tottenham (Harry Kane, 42 minutes)

Kieran Trippier earns free kick duties on this occasion and the right back gets it over the wall, dipping towards the bottom right corner. 

The ball squeezes past Jordan Pickford and comes back off his upright, rebounding back in to the centre of the box where Harry Kane is perfectly placed to pounce and poach to extend Spurs' lead.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:41

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