Everton cranked up the pressure on Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou as they secured a crucial three points in their battle against relegation with a dramatic 3-2 win over Spurs at Goodison Park.
The Toffees were three goals to the good before half time, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring his first goal in 17 games to get the hosts going.
A superb solo strike by Iliman Ndiaye doubled Everton's lead, before Archie Gray scored an unfortunate own goal to pile on the misery for the visitors, giving Everton a three-goal lead at half time of a Premier League home game for the first time since February 2017.
Tottenham threatened a fightback to make for a dramatic ending to the game, as Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison - against his former club - reduced the deficit to one, but it was too little too late for Postecoglou's struggling side.
The defeat is already Tottenham's 12th in the league this season and leaves them just four points better off than Everton, who themselves have moved four points clear of the relegation zone.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Iconsport
David Moyes will be thrilled to have secured the first win of his second spell in charge of the club, but they made hard work of it in the end.
His team were cruising at the interval, but were hanging on for dear life as the game reached its conclusion, when they really should not have been.
Everton frightened the life out of Tottenham's makeshift defence and did the damage in the first half, as they looked capable of scoring every time they went forward.
As the game finished, it was the hosts that gave their own fans a scare, as the tension in the stadium was clear, but the hosts held on for a deserved victory to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
EVERTON VS. TOTTENHAM
Dominic Calvert-Lewin goal vs. Tottenham (13th min, Everton 1-0 Tottenham)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin finishes expertly to open the scoring at Goodison Park! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/65AE0DWZN3
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
The Toffees have the lead!
After a bright start to the game, the hosts have a deserved advantage, as Idrissa Gana Gueye feeds the ball into the feet of Calvert-Lewin, who evades the pressure from Tottenham's defenders to slot Everton ahead against Spurs.
Iliman Ndiaye goal vs. Tottenham (30th min, Everton 2-0 Tottenham)
"That's a MAGIC moment." 🪄
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Iliman Ndiaye what a goal! 👏 pic.twitter.com/Q9byZ92x1d
What a sensational goal by Ndiaye!
Gueye will claim another assist here, but this goal was mostly all of Ndiaye's work, as he collected the ball just past the halfway line and ran into acres of space, before going past Radu Dragusin to blast the ball past Antonin Kinsky.
Archie Gray own goal vs. Tottenham (45th (+7) min, Everton 3-0 Tottenham)
Nightmare first half for Spurs as Archie Gray puts it in his own net to make it 3-0 to Everton 🫣 pic.twitter.com/NvIFpmai1h
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
It goes from bad to worse for the visitors!
Tottenham's nightmare first half continues as Gray has scored an own goal to put the hosts 3-0 up just before the break.
A deep cross towards the back post was headed towards Calvert-Lewin by James Tarkowski, and Calvert-Lewin's flick on goes off the unfortunate Gray and into the net.
Dejan Kulusevski goal vs. Everton (77th min, Everton 3-1 Tottenham)
Tottenham pull one back through a fine Dejan Kulusevski dink! 💥 pic.twitter.com/UMw0hVNOCi
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Late hope for Tottenham here at Goodison Park!
Kulusevski scores with a delicious dinked effort to reduce the deficit here on Merseyside, but have they left it too late?
Richarlison goal vs. Everton (90th min (+2), Everton 3-2 Tottenham)
Richarlison gets on the end of Mikey Moore's cross and Spurs have a second!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Will there be one last twist in the tale? 👀 pic.twitter.com/L9F4EJuJ8r
Surely Tottenham have no time for an equaliser now?
Former Everton man Richarlison scores on his return to Goodison Park, as he bundles in at the back post to make it 3-2!
MAN OF THE MATCH - DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN
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Calvert-Lewin came into this match low on confidence, but he demonstrated how well he can play when he is at his best.
A constant threat throughout the game, he got the hosts off to a flying start and played a part in their third goal too.
EVERTON VS. TOTTENHAM MATCH STATS
Possession: Everton 36%-64% Tottenham
Shots: Everton 12-11 Tottenham
Shots on target: Everton 6-6 Tottenham
Corners: Everton 3-8 Tottenham
Fouls: Everton 14-14 Tottenham
BEST STATS
Iliman Ndiaye's Premier League goals this season:
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 19, 2025
◎ Away
◎ Away
◎ Away
◉ Home
His first league goal at Goodison Park was worth the wait. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/mt9BFAOThC
Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Everton in the first half vs. Tottenham:
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 19, 2025
◉ Most touches in opp. box (8)
◉ Most duels won (8)
◉ Most aerial duels won (5/5)
◉ Most shots (3)
◉ Most shots on target (2)
That goal has done him the world of good. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/pFvpbNwTm0
WHAT NEXT?
Everton travel to Brighton & Hove Albion next Saturday, hoping to build momentum following this win against Spurs.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are in European action on Thursday, as they travel to Germany to take on Hoffenheim, before hosting Leicester City in the Premier League next Sunday.
Tom Humphrey
