Tottenham Hotspur extended their unbeaten Premier League away run with a commanding 3-0 victory over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, handing the Toffees their first defeat at their new home.
Dutch defender Micky van de Ven was the unlikely hero, scoring twice in the first half to put Spurs in control before Pape Matar Sarr added a late third to seal the win. The result lifted Thomas Frank’s side to third in the table, five points behind leaders Arsenal, while Everton slipped to 14th.
The hosts had arrived with an unbeaten record at their new Bramley-Moore Dock ground, but Tottenham’s set-piece precision and defensive discipline proved too much to handle.
Spurs Strike Early Through Van de Ven
Tottenham took the lead after 19 minutes through a rehearsed corner routine. Rodrigo Bentancur flicked the delivery back across goal, and Van de Ven reacted quickest to nod in from close range.
Everton thought they had equalised minutes later when Jake O’Brien’s header beat Guglielmo Vicario, only for VAR to intervene. Referee Craig Pawson overturned the goal after determining that Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye had interfered from offside positions.
That decision seemed to deflate the home side, and Tottenham capitalised in first-half stoppage time. Pedro Porro’s curling corner was met again by Van de Ven, who powered his header past Jordan Pickford to double the advantage.
The centre-back, wearing the captain’s armband in Cristian Romero’s absence, led by example both in attack and defence. Alongside Kevin Danso, he marshalled the back line superbly, dealing confidently with Everton’s barrage of crosses.
“It was an outstanding performance from him,” said Tottenham boss Thomas Frank. “He’s not only a leader at the back but showed he can be decisive at the other end too.”
Sarr Seals It Late On
Everton rallied briefly after the break, pushing forward in search of a lifeline. Beto had chances but continued his frustrating run of form, while Vicario made several key saves to preserve Spurs’ clean sheet.
Tottenham wrapped up the points in the 89th minute. Former Everton forward Richarlison — introduced as a second-half substitute — whipped in a teasing cross that Pape Matar Sarr met with a glancing header to make it 3-0.
For the hosts, it was a deflating end to what had once been a proud home record. Fans began leaving early as Sarr’s effort hit the net, a sign of their frustration at a flat performance.
Everton’s Attacking Woes Continue
Manager David Moyes lamented his side’s failure to defend set-pieces and convert chances.
“We didn’t defend corners well enough,” Moyes admitted. “Tottenham were better organised and more clinical.”
Everton’s biggest issue remains in attack. Between them, Beto and Thierno Barry have managed just one league goal this season, and both struggled again on Sunday.
Beto’s evening was summed up by a bizarre moment in the first half when he attempted a bicycle kick from close range rather than controlling and shooting conventionally. Barry, introduced for the final 25 minutes, was equally ineffective as Tottenham’s defence stood firm.
The Toffees relied heavily on the wide creativity of Grealish and Ndiaye, who delivered a stream of dangerous crosses, but there was no one in the middle capable of converting them.
Spurs Show Title Ambition
For Tottenham, the victory reflected the growing confidence under Frank. After a disappointing Champions League display against Monaco in midweek, Spurs responded with a commanding performance built on structure and focus.
“Set-pieces are crucial for us,” said Frank. “We worked hard on them, and tonight it paid off.”
The win keeps Spurs firmly in the title conversation. They now turn their attention to Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round clash at Newcastle, while Everton will aim to bounce back when they travel to Sunderland on 3 November.
Van de Ven, deservedly named Player of the Match with an average fan rating of 8.99, summed up the difference between the sides — leadership, precision, and a touch of class at both ends of the pitch.
