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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)

44 minutes

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Davinson Sanchez again chase a pass over the top, the Colombian forcing Calvert-Lewin off balance and then drawing a foul.

Free kick for Spurs inside their own box.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:45

45 minutes

Four goals but few other stoppages means it will be two minutes added on at the end of the first half.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:45

Everton took an early lead but looked open at the back throughout the first half, and Tottenham made them pay with three goals to lead at half-time.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:47

Spurs are deservedly ahead after an entertaining half of football, but Everton will be disappointed with their capitulation after taking the lead after an emotional goal from Theo Walcott, who unfortunately lost his grandfather this week.

It was an awful moment for Jordan Pickford and Kurt Zouma to hand Heung-Min Son the equaliser, but Marco Silva's men will argue that they could have been two ahead beforehand after Dominic Calvert-Lewin's disallowed goal.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:55

But from there Spurs continued to threaten, with first Dele Alli and latterly Harry Kane profiting from rebounds to take and extend the lead.

The game is so open - it seems likely the second half will feature even more goals...

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 16:56

Dele Alli was rather naughtily lunged into by Jordan Pickford after being flagged offside moments before half-time, and he has not re-emerged for the second half.

​Erik Lamela takes his place as the game resumes.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:03

47 minutes

Gylfi Sigurdsson eventually works enough space to get in the cross and Davinson Sanchez miscues his clearing header behind for a corner.

Sigurdsson takes but it isn't his best, and Heung-Min Son and Christian Eriksen combine to clear.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:05

GOAL! Everton 1-4 Tottenham (Christian Eriksen, 48 minutes)

Stunning finish!

Kieran Trippier lofts the ball for Harry Kane, who takes the ball down with the deftest of back heels on the run.

Kane's cross is lacklustre and easily headed away by Seamus Coleman, but Christian Eriksen is there to come on to the loose bouncing ball.

Eriksen controls his volley perfectly, cutting across it in outstanding fashion to swerve the ball beyond Coleman's effort to block from the floor and into the bottom corner.

A quite brilliant strike.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:06

GOAL! Everton 2-4 Tottenham (Gylfi Sigurdsson, 51 minutes)

​A lifeline for Everton!

Richarlison feeds Gylfi Sigurdsson who moves between Christian Eriksen and Davinson Sanchez, and continues to move across the Spurs defence to his right.

He takes the ball beyond Ben Davies and then shoots back across Hugo Lloris, who gets his fingertips to the ball but fails to keep it out.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:09

​53 minutes 

Andre Gomes has picked up an injury, and Morgan Schneiderlin will come on in the Portuguese midfielder's place.

Six goals already, and the game remains remarkably open.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:11

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