Tottenham sail through Everton to reclaim top four spot

London,

Saturday, 23 December, 2023 

McCreadie Andias 

Former Everton striker Richarlison inspired Tottenham to a 2-1 win over the Toffees scoring his fifth league goal of the season during a Premier league match played at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London. 

Everton came into the match enjoying four straight top - flight wins without conceding a goal.

Richarlison opened the score sheet in the ninth minute perfectly executing the ball from Brennan Johnson’s square pass to register his fourth goal in his last three appearances.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin would have secured an early equalizer for the visitors as he met Vitaliy Mykolenko’s inviting delivery, only for Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to make a fine stop.

Spurs serial scorer Son Heung-min added the second for the hosts after slotting in from a rebound after Jordan Pickford had denied Johnson from a well-worked short corner, it was the 11th goal of the season for the South Korea international. 

Jack Harrison would have pulled a goal back for the Toffees in first-half stoppage time when he saw his left-foot shot kept out by the resolute Vicario.

Calvert Lewin’s 51st-minute strike was chalked off for a foul in the build-up to delay Everton's attempts from a goal. 

It was more frustration for the Toffees as James Garner scraped the outside of the post with a driven effort.

Their persistence eventually paid off in the 82nd minute when a corner broke to Andre Gomes, who drove the ball into the bottom corner to mark his first appearance of the season with a goal.

The Toffees were however held from an equalizer with spurs building up more reselience to secure all the three points. 

Everton remain down in 16th place, Spurs climb above Manchester City and into fourth position.