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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)

55 minutes

Schneiderlin's first involvement is an overhit clip down the line in the direction Seamus Coleman.

Poor start for the Frenchman.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:13

57 minutes

Now it is the turn of Gylfi Sigurdsson to misplace a pass to his captain, Coleman again missed with his firm square pass.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:15

59 minutes

All the play in the last ten minutes has come in the Tottenham half, and Mauricio Pochettino's side need to settle a little.

They are still in a comfortable situation, but another Everton goal would change things.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:17

GOAL! Everton 2-5 Tottenham (Heung-Min Son, 61 minutes)

That should settle it!

Erik Lamela finds space in the pocket between the Everton midfield and defence, and seems to have perhaps waited to long to release Heung-Min Son in the centre forward position.

Son is very close to being offside but the flag is not raised as he takes Lamela's driven through ball well, and he nutmegs Jordan Pickford to restore Tottenham's three-goal lead.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:19

64 minutes

Seven goals and still the best part of half-an-hour left in this game. 

Everton starting to pour men forward with reckless abandon, and Harry Kane nearly frees Erik Lamela into one of the spaces left, but Jordan Pickford is alive to the situation and clears comfortably in the end on this occasion.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:23

67 minutes

The travelling Spurs support sing their manager's name as Moussa Sissoko is fouled after breaking up an Everton attack.

That isn't a great challenge from Tom Davies, but he escapes further punishment.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:25

68 minutes

A long, flowing spell of Tottenham possession breaks down on the edge of the Everton box as Ben Davies and Harry Kane are not on the same page, with the left-back looking for the one-two and Kane instead moving for a stood-up cross.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:27

70 minutes

An impertinent act from Christian Eriksen, kicking the ball away as Tom Davies looks to take a free kick. 

Paul Tierney duly books him.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:29

72 minutes

Erik Lamela breaches the (rather loose) shackles of the Everton midfield once again but his touch os far too heavy, allowing Michael Keane to step across and clear.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:30

GOAL! Everton 2-6 Tottenham (Harry Kane, 74 minutes)

Four braces in a row against Everton for Harry Kane!

That is a lovely team goal. It is worked down the left to Ben Davies, who turns the ball down the line to Heung-Min Son.

Son has too much pace for Michael Keane and thus has plenty of space to pick out Kane running to the penalty spot, and Kane opens his foot up to guide the ball into the far corner and score Spurs' sixth.

Harry Latham-Coyle23 December 2018 17:32

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