Tottenham Hotspur have handed their top-four hopes a much-needed boost courtesy of a thumping 5-0 win over an error-strewn Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening.
Antonio Conte's side were 3-0 up by half time and added another within seconds of the restart before Harry Kane put the icing on the cake with his second of the match and his 176th in the Premier League - leapfrogging Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in the all-time rankings.
Kane is now just one goal behind Frank Lampard, the Everton boss who was forced to watch on as his sorry side capitulated to deepen their relegation concerns.
The Toffees still sit just one point clear of the bottom three, while they now have a worse goal difference than 18th-placed Burnley courtesy of tonight's result.
Two goals in the space of three minutes set the tone as first Michael Keane turned into his own net before Son Heung-min squeezed a shot past Jordan Pickford, who should have saved the effort.
Kane was then released through on goal to tuck home his first of the night, drawing level with Henry, and Spurs wasted no time in picking up where they left off at the start of the second half.
Sergio Reguilon - only on as a half-time sub for the injured Ryan Sessegnon - scored less than a minute after his arrival when he converted Dejan Kulusevski's low cross, and a delightful volley from Kane capped off the rout in fitting fashion.
Spurs, who have now scored nine goals without reply in their last two league games, still sit seventh in the table but are now just three points behind North London rivals Arsenal in fourth.
Conte's side face Manchester United at the weekend, while Everton will look to bounce back from their third straight Premier League defeat and 15th of the season when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers.
HIGHLIGHTS
14th min: Tottenham open the scoring through an own goal from Michael Keane, who turns Ryan Sessegnon's cross past Jordan Pickford with Kane in close proximity.
Superb from Ryan Sessegnon 🤩
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 7, 2022
Great work by the Spurs man down the left - with his low cross towards Harry Kane turned in by Everton defender Michael Keane! 💥 pic.twitter.com/WLcqkgGhwR
17th min: One quickly becomes two, but Pickford will not be happy with himself for this one. Kane and Dejan Kulusevski combine to find Son, who doesn't catch his shot cleanly but still manages to squeeze it past the Everton keeper.
"Jordan Pickford will be very disappointed" 👀
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 7, 2022
Tottenham double their early lead over Everton! 💪 pic.twitter.com/MMbwJV4YZ3
28th min: Pickford goes some way towards redeeming himself by thwarting Son this time, the South Korean having been sent through one-on-one by Matt Doherty. Kane meets the follow-up, but cannot steer his effort on target.
34th min: Doherty almost gets in on the act himself when he beats his man and gets a shot away from a tight angle, but Pickford is there to make the save.
37th min: Back to being the provider, Doherty slides the ball through to Kane, who is bearing down on goal with only Pickford to beat. There never looks to be any doubt about the finish, and sure enough the England captain fires past his international colleague to make it 3-0 with eight minutes of the first half still to go.
Harry Kane puts Spurs 3-0 up with less than 40 minutes played 😱
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 7, 2022
He's now level with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry on 175 Premier League goals! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/f449BBXhyK
46th min: Sergio Reguilon, who has only just come on at half time, scores with his very first touch after just 41 seconds on the pitch. Spurs pour forward again and Kulusevski plays the ball across the box, where Reguilon is steaming in to apply the finishing touch.
WHAT A START TO THE SECOND HALF! 🥵️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 7, 2022
Incredible impact from Spurs substitute Sergio Reguilon as he makes it 4-0 about 20 seconds after coming on! 💯 pic.twitter.com/esuGVya45w
53rd min: A rare sight of goal for Everton as Dominic Calvert-Lewin flashes a low strike across goal but wide of the far post, with Richarlison unable to get onto it.
55th min: Everton are saved further embarrassment by the woodwork as Eric Dier meets a Kane cross but heads against the crossbar.
55th min: No such reprieve for Everton this time as Kane produces another moment of class to make it 5-0. Doherty floats the ball over to the unmarked striker, who still has plenty to do but makes his superb volley look easy.
🗣 "A sparkling finish from this EXTRAORDINARY footballer"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 7, 2022
Spurs have FIVE as Harry Kane grabs his second of the night - we've only been playing 55 minutes! 😬 pic.twitter.com/DtAYKdw6iT
84th min: Davinson Sanchez gets a glancing header to Reguilon's free kick, but sends his effort narrowly wide.
MAN OF THE MATCH - HARRY KANE
© Reuters
There were plenty of good performances in the Tottenham team today - aided in no small part by some poor Everton defending - but Kane was once again head and shoulders above the rest.
Kane not only scored twice, the second of which was a particularly good finish, but he also played a major role in build-up play as Spurs cut through Everton time after time.
To overtake Henry - a man regarded by many as the greatest player in Premier League history - is no mean feat, and Lampard's tally will be firmly in his sights now.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
The pick of the goals tonight was Kane's second - a fine volley on his weaker foot which he made look remarkably easy.
Once again, the Everton defending left a lot to be desired, and Doherty also deserves praise for his cross, but Kane still had so much to do as the ball dropped to him.
The striker was able to watch it all the way and expertly steered his first-time volley across goal and into the bottom corner.
BEST STAT
⚽️⚽️ Harry Kane has now scored 2 goals against Everton in PL on 6 separate occasions
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) March 7, 2022
He has also now scored 20+ goals for Tottenham in all competitions & 10+ PL goals for an 8th successive season pic.twitter.com/TbRfUL8zsz
MATCH STATS
Possession: Spurs 55%-45% Everton
Shots: Spurs 14-6 Everton
Shots on target: Spurs 7-0 Everton
Corners: Spurs 5-2 Everton
Fouls: Spurs 15-10 Everton
LINEUPS
SPURS (3-4-3): Lloris; Romero (Sanchez 52'), Dier, Davies; Doherty, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon (Reguilon 46'); Kulusevski, Kane, Son (Bergwijn 67')
EVERTON (3-5-2): Pickford; Coleman, Holgate, Keane (Branthwaite 46'); Gordon, Doucoure, Allan, Van de Beek (Mykolenko 59'), Kenny; Calvert-Lewin (Alli 69'), Richarlison
Barney Corkhill
