Tottenham Hotspur earned their first Premier League victory of the 2024-25 season in emphatic style as they demolished Everton 4-0 in North London.
Five days on from their opening 1-1 draw with Leicester City, where failure to convert their opportunities cost them dear, the Lilywhites had evidently worked on their killer touch on the training ground if the 90 this weekend was anything to go by.
Making amends for his laughing gas incident in the best possible way, Yves Bissouma returned to the starting lineup with a bang by smacking home his maiden Spurs goal, before Son Heung-min capitalised on a catastrophic Jordan Pickford mistake.
Ange Postecoglou's men were all over Sean Dyche's tepid troops in the first 45, with defensive absentees hitting the visitors hard, although a raft of second-half changes saw them shore up at the back and ask some more questions of the Spurs rearguard.
However, that resurgence was extremely short-lived for the Toffees, as Cristian Romero's header on his 100th Spurs appearance preceded Son completing his brace to leave Everton still searching for their maiden away win of 2024.
Following major criticism of their lack of ruthlessness at the King Power Stadium, Tottenham responded to such scathing reviews perfectly on home turf, but more and more alarm bells are ringing in the Everton dressing room.
TOTTENHAM VS. EVERTON HIGHLIGHTS
Yves Bissouma goal vs. Everton (14th min, Tottenham 1-0 Everton)
© Imago
From the naughty step to the spotlight, Bissouma's redemption arc is complete as the Mali midfielder - suspended for the Leicester City draw after filming himself inhaling laughing gas - strikes the opener that Spurs deserve.
Postecoglou's side dominated the early exchanges and work it in and around the box on the right-hand side, before Dejan Kulusevski tees up Bissouma to crash in a 20-yard thunderbolt off the underside of the bar.
Son Heung-min goal vs. Everton (25th min, Tottenham 2-0 Everton)
© Imago
Pickford had arguably been Everton's hero in the first 25 minutes with a succession of saves to partly keep Tottenham at bay, but the England international has nowhere to hide after this dreadful error.
The Toffees number one is closed down by Son after taking a heavy touch from a backpass, and despite a desperate attempt to take the Korean out, he is robbed by the Spurs captain and helplessly watches him roll the ball into an empty net. Calamity.
Cristian Romero goal vs. Everton (71st min, Tottenham 3-0 Everton)
Romero marks his 100th appearance for Tottenham in perfect fashion, and it is so simple for the Argentine centre-back, who leaps majestically to meet James Maddison's corner and sees his header hit the underside of the bar before bouncing over the line.
Son Heung-min goal vs. Everton (77th min, Tottenham 4-0 Everton)
Many Everton fans had surely ruled out the possibility of an astounding comeback by the time the second goal went in, but Son erases any lingering doubt by completing his brace.
This one, however, is all about Micky van de Ven, as the Dutch defender single-handedly leads a Tottenham counter-attacking charge by running the full length of the pitch before laying off Son, who beats Pickford from a tight angle.
MAN OF THE MATCH - SON HEUNG-MIN
© Imago
Bissouma's redemption rocket and Van de Ven's barnstorming run were individual highlights of Saturday's affair, but an inspirational captain's display from Son sees the South Korean scoop the Man of the Match prize.
Operating centrally as a result of Dominic Solanke's injury, Son was alert to Pickford's horror moment before showcasing his clinical ability from a tight angle, scoring with two of his three attempts on target.
TOTTENHAM VS. EVERTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Tottenham 71%-29% Everton
Shots: Tottenham 13-10 Everton
Shots on target: Tottenham 7-1 Everton
Corners: Tottenham 12-5 Everton
Fouls: Tottenham 11-15 Everton
BEST STATS
James Maddison is the first player to provide multiple assists in the Premier League this season.
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) August 24, 2024
🅰️ vs. Leicester
🅰️ vs. Everton
A pin point delivery for Cuti Romero. 🎯#TOTEVE pic.twitter.com/rLO35mLzzS
#thfc defender Cristian Romero has scored more Premier League goals (6) than any other defender since the start of last season. [Squawka]
— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) August 24, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
A trip to an unhappy hunting ground awaits Tottenham Hotspur on matchday three, as the Lilywhites head to Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, where Solanke may or may not be ready to return.
Everton will also be keeping their fingers crossed over their defensive injury crisis easing in time for their home meeting with Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
