Tottenham Hotspur secured a place in the top four of the Premier League with a thrilling victory over Everton.
Richarlison marked his return to face his former club by scoring his fourth goal in three matches, followed by Son Heung-min extending Spurs’ lead.
Everton, with Andre Gomes making his first Premier League appearance since May 2022, deservedly pulled a goal back.
The victory propelled Spurs into fourth place, surpassing Manchester City, who were absent from league action due to the Club World Cup.
Everton’s loss halted a four-game winning streak, leaving them just four points above the relegation zone.
Richarlison, the Brazilian forward, gave the hosts an early lead, slotting in Brennan Johnson’s low cross at the near post within nine minutes.
Son extended Spurs’ advantage shortly after, capitalizing on a powerful drive from Johnson that was initially parried by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.
Despite Everton’s attacking efforts, Dominic Calvert-Lewin found the net five minutes into the second half, only for the video assistant referee to disallow the goal due to a foul by Gomes on Emerson Royal during the build-up.
Gomes, who spent last season on loan at Lille before suffering a calf injury, made some amends with a fine volleyed strike on 82 minutes to set up a grandstand finish, but Spurs held on.
30 not out for free-scoring Spurs
Tottenham seized the opportunity to gift their fans an early Christmas delight, securing a spot in the top four with Ange Postecoglou’s trademark attacking approach.
The team’s remarkable achievement of scoring in 30 consecutive Premier League games sets them apart as the sole squad to find the net in every league match this season.
Postecoglou’s bold tactics were evident in Spurs’ rapid start and Everton’s numerous scoring opportunities. Richarlison, reflecting the impact of these aggressive strategies, has notably surged with six goals this season, a stark improvement from his initial two goals in his first 39 league appearances for Spurs.
The 26-year-old’s stellar form has provided a significant lift to Postecoglou’s mission of restoring Tottenham’s top-four aspirations, which faced setbacks in November and early December. However, concern arose for the manager as Richarlison had to be substituted in the second half due to an apparent back injury.
Simultaneously, Son’s goal marked his 11th in the league for the 2023-24 season, surpassing his tally from the previous season.
While Everton failed to secure any points, they made significant contributions, with the hosts often relying on goalkeeper Gigi Vicario’s crucial saves.
Vicario found himself unable to prevent Calvert-Lewin’s 50th-minute strike, although VAR intervened to save him, and James Garner’s subsequent attempt narrowly missed the far post. Despite conceding to Gomes’ strike, Vicario emerged as the savior once again, making two crucial late stops against Arnaut Danjuma, including a 97th-minute volley that he thwarted with his thigh after the former Spurs winger had struck the bar.