Tottenham 2-1 Everton: Richarlison and Son Heung-min goals help Spurs into top four as resurgence continues

Two first half goals moved Tottenham into the UEFA Champions League spots as they beat Everton 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Everton, meanwhile, continue to rebuild after their 10-point deduction, and while they started the day seven points clear of the drop, a win would take them past Crystal Palace and into 15th.

Tottenham scored two early goals as Richarlison and then Son Heung-min scored before the game was 20 minutes old, and despite a late first-half push from Everton, they went into the tunnel 2-0 ahead.

In the second half, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had an early goal chalked off for a foul in the build-up from Andre Gomes, only for the former Barcelona man to score in the 82nd-minute from a corner.

Ange Postecoglou’s team then invited pressure but were able to hold on for three points.

Tottenham took advantage of some slack Everton defending in the early stages and for much of the first half hour, Ange Postecoglou’s side threatened to run away with it.

However, Spurs’ terrible passing around their area gave Everton a succession of chances that more ruthless sides would have used to potentially go ahead.

While Tottenham will reflect on a vital three points in the league campaign, they will pay for it if they don’t tighten up at the back.

The former Nottingham Forest man was devastating down the right and gave Everton a really hard time in the first half. If he maintains this form then it will be hard to see him losing his place even when Tottenham have all their players back.

Tottenham: Vicario 6, Porro 6, Romero 6, Davies 6, Royal 6, Sarr 7, Skipp 6, Kulusevski 6, Johnson 8*, Richarlison 7, Son 7. Subs: Dier 6, Hojbjerg 6, Lo Celso 6.

Everton: Pickford 7, Patterson 6, Tarkowski 6, Branthwaite 6, Mykolenko 7, Onana 6, Gana 6, Garner 7, McNeil 7, Harrison 6, Calvert-Lewin 5. Subs: Danjuma 6, Beto 6, Andre Gomes 6.

9’ – GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-0 EVERTON – RICHARLISON SCORES – His sixth goal of the season, and fourth in his last three games. Tottenham have Sarr to release Johnson down the right, Richarlison at the near post clips it to the left of Pickford’s dive.

12’ – JOHNSON CHANCE! Emerson picks out Johnson unmarked at the back post, and he slices his effort well over the bar.

18’ – GOAL! TOTTENHAM 2-0 EVERTON – SON SCORES – From a corner, Spurs work Johnson into the box and his powerful shot is blasted at Pickford, who pushes it back into danger and lets Son finish.

50’ – GOAL! TOTTENHAM 2-1 EVERTON – CALVERT-LEWIN SCORES? He’s released to fire past the ‘keeper but VAR SAYS NO after Andre-Gomes fouls Johnson in the build-up.

61’ – GARNER CHANCE – Harrison flicks a great past to Garner on the inside right, and he strikes the far post!

82’ – GOAL! TOTTENHAM 2-1 EVERTON – A corner from the left misses everyone and Gomes runs onto it at the back post, 15 yards out, and connects brilliantly to fire across Vicario.

Richarlison has scored four goals in his last three appearances.