Everton 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
An absorbing Premier League encounter on a Friday night, full of excitement and drama between two sides striving for form.
It was always too much to expect a repeat of their nine-goal FA Cup thriller from two months ago but both Everton and Spurs yet again managed to serve up some Premier League highlights.
Of course, with both in need of maximum points, the result this SBOTOP writer predicted duly occurred and ended up suiting neither team.
In fact, this all but ended their Champions League qualification hopes and the Premier League betting odds suggest both will end up just outside the top six too.
Sadly, that wasn’t the talking point after the match as Spurs’ two goal hero and England captain Harry Kane gave the nation a scare with less than months until the start of the delayed Euro 2020.
Of more immediate importance, he limped off in stoppage time with a suspected ankle injury with the League Cup Final just over a week away.
Highlights of the game
A repeat of their opening weekend clash when a new-look Everton travelled to North London and returned home successful, the hosts welcomed back Jordan Pickford between the sticks, one of three changes to the Toffees team that drew with Brighton on Monday.
Midfielder Allan also returned following a spell on the sidelines while Alex Iwobi replaced Seamus Coleman.
In a big blow for the home side, striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin did not make the squad.
Spurs, still without injured full-backs Ben Davies and Matt Doherty, made two changes from their 3-1 reverse to Manchester United last weekend.
Toby Alderweireld was recalled, as was Moussa Sissoko, with Giovanni Lo Celso and Lucas Moura missing out.
It ended up being the Gylfi and Harry show but only one man was being talked about after the spoils were shared.
Kane put his team in front just before the half hour, clinically finding the bottom corner after defender Michael Keane could only half clear a cross.
No sooner had the celebrations died down then Sergio Reguilon brought down home playmaker James Rodriguez and Gylfi Sigurdsson coolly netted from the spot.
The Toffees, aiming to win three consecutive meetings against Spurs for the first time since 1986, went in front just after the hour mark when found by substitute Coleman before majestically sweeping the ball beyond Hugo Lloris.
Yet again the response was pretty quick as Kane pounced on defensive hesitation just six minutes later to haul the visitors level.
That was how the scoreline stayed, although the main concern was the sight of the prolific frontman limping off shaking his head.
Let’s hope he makes a speedy recovery.
As the Athletic website stated this week: trying to imagine what Tottenham will look like next season feels right now like trying to cook a meal blindfolded. Too many possibilities, too many contingencies, too many unknowns.
If Kane ends up missing the remainder of this season through injury, the permutations may not bode well.
Key statistics
Kane has become the fourth player to score as many as 20 in at least five Premier League seasons, emulating Alan Shearer (seven), Sergio Aguero (six) and Thierry Henry (five).
Kane is the first player in Premier League history to score 2+ goals in three consecutive away appearances against a single opponent (September 2017, December 2018 & April 2021).
He has been directly involved in 62 goals in 62 appearances in all competitions for Spurs under Jose Mourinho (45 goals, 17 assists) – no Premier League player has more goal involvements in this period (since 23/11/2019).
Sigurdsson is the third player to score a Premier League brace against Spurs after having played for them in the competition, following Darren Bent (April 2010, Sunderland) and Matthew Etherington (December 2011, Stoke).
The last five meetings between Everton and Tottenham at Goodison Park in all competitions have produced 26 goals (10 for Everton, 16 for Spurs).
Tottenham are unbeaten in their past eight away league matches against Everton since losing three in a row between January 2011 and December 2012.
Spurs have won 27 Premier League matches against Everton, more than they have against any other side.
Only Fulham and Liverpool have earned fewer points at home in 2021 than Everton’s tally of six.
The Toffees have 49 points after 31 matches – the same as their final total last season.
Tottenham have dropped 20 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, a record-high with Brighton.
What’s next?
It’s North London’s other finest up next for Everton as they travel to Arsenal a week tonight (April 23). Spurs, meanwhile, host Southampton on Wednesday evening (April 21) before the biggest match of their season – the League Cup Final against Manchester City (April 25) and the chance to win a first trophy since 2008.
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