Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Everton: Spurs close cap on leaders Arsenal

Harry Kane marked his 400th Tottenham appearance with the opening goal as Antonio Conte’s side closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal with victory over Everton.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg added a second late on with a curling strike that took a slight deflection off Alex Iwobi on its way in.

Spurs dominated the early stages but the two best chances of the first half fell to the visitors, who will be disappointed not to have put away both opportunities.

Demarai Gray failed to hit the target after racing on to Conor Coady’s long ball over the top of the Tottenham defence, before Amadou Onana blazed over the crossbar following Hojbjerg’s poor touch.

Kane sent a rasping volley straight at Pickford early in the second half but there was nothing the Toffees keeper could do about the 29-year-old’s spot-kick – his 14th goal in 15 Premier League appearances against Everton – or Hojbjerg’s late finish.

The victory lifts Conte’s team level on points with second-placed Manchester City and just a point behind north London rivals Arsenal, while Everton drop to 14th.

Prolific Kane sets Spurs on their way

The victory lifts Spurs on to 23 points from 10 league matches – their highest tally at this stage of a Premier League season – while Kane has now scored in five successive top-flight games for the first time in his career.

It was a win the home side thoroughly deserved after a dominant display, although they rode their luck in the first half and could have found themselves behind at half-time.

But Frank Lampard’s team were no match for Spurs in the second half and it wasn’t long before Spurs’ pressure told, Pickford bringing down England team-mate Kane inside the six-yard box with an outstretched arm.

Kane’s penalty lifts him to within eight goals of Jimmy Greaves’ all-time Tottenham record of 266.

Hojbjerg secured the win with five minutes remaining, collecting Rodrigo Bentancur’s delivery before finding the far corner via a deflection off Iwobi.

The only sour note from the hosts’ perspective was a second-half injury to former Everton forward Richarlison, who went down clutching his left calf and was replaced by Yves Bissouma.

“We hope it is not so serious,” Conte said afterwards. “He felt a problem in his calf. He will have an MRI tomorrow.”

Toothless Toffees pay price for first-half misses

Before the game, manager Lampard spoke of Everton’s improved strength of character since their narrow escape from relegation last season.

The Merseyside club have undoubtedly come a long way since losing 5-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March but the visitors were taking no risks in the early stages here, with midfield trio Iwobi, Onana and Idrissa Gueye operating deep in front of the Toffees’ back five in an effort to stifle Conte’s side.

But Everton soon grew into the contest and should have taken the lead when Coady released Gray, but the winger’s finish lacked composure.

The same applied to Onana’s wild effort not long afterwards, which came after the Everton midfielder had capitalised on a lapse in concentration from Hojbjerg inside the Tottenham half.

It was one-way traffic in the second-half, however, as the Toffees failed to register a shot at Hugo Lloris’ goal.

Their overall tally of four attempts is their lowest total in a Premier League game this season.

Player of the match

BissoumaYves Bissouma

Everton

1. Squad number2Player nameTarkowski

2. Squad number30Player nameCoady

3. Squad number17Player nameIwobi

4. Squad number11Player nameGray

5. Squad number1Player namePickford

6. Squad number23Player nameColeman

7. Squad number19Player nameMykolenko

8. Squad number27Player nameGueye

9. Squad number8Player nameOnana

10. Squad number7Player nameMcNeil

11. Squad number20Player nameMaupay

12. Squad number9Player nameCalvert-Lewin

13. Squad number37Player nameGarner

14. Squad number33Player nameRondón

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