Match ends, Everton 2, Tottenham Hotspur 6.
Everton 2-6 Tottenham: Harry Kane and Son Heung-min both score twice
- From the section Premier League
Tottenham produced an outstanding performance to brush aside Everton and move two points behind second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League.
Mauricio Pochettino's side had to come from behind at Goodison Park after Theo Walcott swept home Dominic Calvert-Lewin's low cross from Gylfi Sigurdsson's defence-splitting pass.
Everton's lead was short-lived as Son Heung-min produced a sublime equaliser from a tight angle following a mix-up between Kurt Zouma and Jordan Pickford.
Dele Alli put Spurs ahead for the first time after reacting first to Pickford's save from Son, then Harry Kane made it 3-1 when Kieran Trippier's curling free-kick hit a post and rebounded into the England captain's path.
In an entertaining game, Christian Eriksen's sublime first-time shot extended Tottenham's lead before Sigurdsson scored a consolation against his former club.
Son added the fifth and produced the cross for Kane to make it six, yet victory came at a cost for the free-scoring visitors.
Alli was forced off after a challenge with England team-mate Pickford, which former Three Lions captain Alan Shearer described as "disgusting".
Spurs are five points ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal, who are fourth and fifth respectively.
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- Reaction from Goodison Park
Ruthless Spurs very much in title race
Tottenham head into the Christmas programme with speculation continuing about the future of manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has been linked with the permanent Manchester United job following Jose Mourinho's dismissal.
Yet for all the talk about Pochettino, Spurs remain in rude health on the pitch after following up a Carabao Cup victory over north London rivals Arsenal with a stunning fourth straight league win.
Not only are they in the last 16 of the Champions League, Tottenham have a Carabao Cup semi-final with Chelsea on the horizon and are third in the Premier League - six points behind leaders Liverpool.
They were just too good in front of goal at Goodison, and once they had recovered from falling behind there was no looking back.
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While Son's goal from the tightest of angles to make it 1-1 was a superb piece of skill, Eriksen's sensational finish from outside the box was breathtaking.
That made it 4-1, yet Spurs were still not done.
Son shot through the legs of Pickford to make it 5-2 after Sigurdsson had reduced the deficit before man-of-the-match Son played a deft low cross for Kane to slide in and steer into the corner.
This was Tottenham's ninth Premier League away win of the season - and 14th of 2018.
While they are in this formidable form, they are very much in the title race.
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Day to forget for Pickford
It has been a year to remember for Pickford, who was a key figure during England's run to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia.
However, this was a day to forget for Everton's keeper.
Six minutes after the hosts took the lead, Son was allowed to equalise after Pickford came charging out of his area and ran into team-mate Zouma.
At 1-1, the former Sunderland stopper did well to keep out Son but will perhaps feel he should have done better with the follow-up from Alli.
Then came a moment of controversy as Pickford, with the whistle already gone, challenged Alli, who had continued playing.
Alli failed to appear at the start of the second half, with Shearer claiming Pickford should have been sent off before adding on Twitter: "Pickford lucky Dele didn't react."
Back to basics for Everton
Everton go into Christmas on the back of their heaviest defeat under Marco Silva, without a win in five league games and having conceded 11 times in three matches.
The games come thick and fast and a quick response is required at Burnley on 26 December, and at Brighton three days later if they are to stay in the hunt for a top-six finish.
The day had started so well, with Walcott's first top-flight goal since August, before descending into utter chaos.
It might have been different had Dominic Calvert-Lewin's header, which would have made it 2-0, not been ruled out for a foul.
Instead Everton have one fewer point after 18 games under Silva this season than after the same number of games last season following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman and the appointment of Sam Allardyce.
Man of the match - Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
'The referee saw something I did not see' - the managers
Everton boss Marco Silva: "I'm not here to find an easy excuse. It would have been 2-0, it [the alleged foul] doesn't look anything special. I don't know if it would have been the same in the other box.
"A second goal for us would be different for sure. In that moment the referee saw something I did not see. I can't see anything there.
"The first goal we conceded is impossible. It [defensive error] happened with our team in the last game.
"We have to realise why it happens so many times with us."
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino on why 6-2 is a special scoreline: "It's my present for my wife.
"We got married 26 years ago. And a fantastic way to celebrate tonight."
On Deli Alli's injury: "He didn't feel a big problem. Maybe a little bit tired from Wednesday. I hope it's not a big issue. It was a precaution."
No travel sickness from Spurs - the stats
- Tottenham have won nine of their 11 Premier League away games this season.
- This is the third time Everton conceded six goals in a Premier League home game, with all of those coming against London clubs (1-6 v Arsenal in August 2009, 3-6 v Chelsea in August 2014).
- This is the fourth time Tottenham have scored six or more goals in a Premier League away game, with three of those coming in the last three seasons, and twice against a side managed by Marco Silva.
- Under Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs have won more games (18) and more points (70) from losing positions than any other side in the Premier League.
- Harry Kane has scored at least twice in each of his last four Premier League appearances against Everton.
- No player has made more errors leading to a goal in the Premier League this season than Everton's Jordan Pickford (3).
- Tottenham have never lost in the 36 Premier League games in which Dele Alli has scored for them.
- 2018-19 is the first top-flight season to see at least three clubs amass 40+ points by Christmas (Liverpool 48, Man City 44, Spurs 42) since the 1985-86 campaign.
What's next?
Everton are on the road over Christmas with matches at Burnley (15:00 GMT) on Boxing Day and Brighton (15:00) on 29 December. Meanwhile, Tottenham have back-to-back matches at Wembley against Bournemouth (15:00) on Boxing Day and Wolves (15:00) on 29 December.
Line-ups
Everton
- 1Pickford
- 23Coleman
- 4Keane
- 5Zouma
- 12Digne
- 26Davies
- 8André GomesSubstituted forSchneiderlinat 53'minutes
- 11Walcott
- 10G SigurdssonSubstituted forTosunat 83'minutes
- 30RicharlisonSubstituted forBernardat 75'minutes
- 29Calvert-Lewin
Substitutes
- 3Baines
- 13Mina
- 14Tosun
- 18Schneiderlin
- 19Niasse
- 20Bernard
- 22Stekelenburg
Tottenham
- 1Lloris
- 2TrippierBooked at 32mins
- 6D Sánchez
- 4Alderweireld
- 33Davies
- 8Winks
- 17SissokoSubstituted forLucas Mouraat 83'minutes
- 23EriksenBooked at 71mins
- 20AlliSubstituted forLamelaat 45'minutes
- 10Kane
- 7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forSkippat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Rose
- 11Lamela
- 16Walker-Peters
- 21Foyth
- 22Gazzaniga
- 27Lucas Moura
- 52Skipp
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 39,319
Match Stats
Home TeamEvertonAway TeamTottenham
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away8
- Corners
- Home2
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away9
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Everton 2, Tottenham Hotspur 6.
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Attempt blocked. Morgan Schneiderlin (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. Theo Walcott (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Harry Winks.
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Attempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lucas Moura.
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Lucas Digne.
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Attempt missed. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left from a direct free kick.
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Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Lucas Digne (Everton).
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Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lucas Digne (Everton).
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Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Kurt Zouma (Everton).
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Attempt blocked. Bernard (Everton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Schneiderlin.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Lucas Moura replaces Moussa Sissoko.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Cenk Tosun replaces Gylfi Sigurdsson.
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Attempt saved. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucas Digne.
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Attempt blocked. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Erik Lamela.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Oliver Skipp replaces Son Heung-Min.
