Micky van de Ven scores twice as Tottenham beat Everton 3-0, ending the Toffees’ unbeaten record at their new stadium and moving Spurs to third.
MICKY van de Ven struck twice as Tottenham moved into third place in the Premier League with a 3-0 win that ended Everton’s unbeaten record at their new stadium.
Thomas Frank’s side extended their impressive away form thanks to the Dutch defender’s first-half double and a late Pape Sarr header.
Everton were unbeaten in their first five games in all competitions at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, their new arena after moving from Goodison Park.
But injury-hit Tottenham shattered that unblemished start with just their second win in their last five league games.
“It’s crazy. I never score two goals in one game. It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Van de Ven said.
While Tottenham have endured a torrid time in home games, they have the most away points in the Premier League this season.
Those travelling Tottenham supporters were in better spirits on Merseyside after a workmanlike victory in torrential rain.
Unlike his Tottenham predecessor Ange Postecoglou, Frank prioritises organisation and set-piece expertise over stylish attacking play.
The Dane’s prosaic philosophy might go against Tottenham’s ‘to dare is to do’ ethos, but his results have been a marked improvement on last term’s 17th-placed finish.
Tottenham are five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and have also made a solid start to their Champions League campaign.
“Set-pieces are so crucial. Right now, Arsenal is on track for the title from set-pieces. We worked hard on it and so did Micky,” Frank said.
“Any away match you win 3-0 in the Premier League is super impressive. First half, we took control of the ball and passed more. The second half was more of a dog fight.”
Jack Grealish was back for Everton after the on-loan winger was unable to play in the defeat against his parent club Manchester City.
Grealish should have given Everton the lead in the fourth minute when his close-range strike was blocked on the line by Pedro Porro.
Tottenham stole the lead with their first shot in the 19th minute when Van de Ven nodded in from close range.
James Garner nearly grabbed an instant equaliser with a curler that forced a fine save from Guglielmo Vicario.
Jake O’Brien thought he had headed Everton level but the goal was disallowed by VAR for offside against Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye.
Van de Ven scrambled Ndiaye’s cross to safety with Beto preparing to apply the finishing touch just before half-time.
The centre-back doubled the lead deep into first-half stoppage time with a glancing header from Porro’s inswinging corner.
Richarlison, on as a second-half replacement, wasted a golden chance to net against his old club when he shot straight at Jordan Pickford.
Sarr wrapped up the points in the 89th minute with a close-range header from Richarlison’s nod-down. – AFP
