Merseyside | First defeat for Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

Everton 0 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur

Micky van de Ven struck twice as Tottenham continued their unbeaten Premier League run away from home and inflicted a first defeat on Everton at their new stadium.

Author | Sarah W

Stadium | Hill Dickinson Stadium

The Toffees had avoided defeat in their previous five matches at their newly built home on Bramley-Moore Dock, having waved farewell to Goodison Park after 133 years at the end of last season.

But Spurs captain Van de Ven twice reacted sharply to set pieces in the opening half, putting that strong home form under pressure. Everton could not muster a response before Pape Matar Sarr, teed up by former Toffees forward Richarlison, nodded in a third to remove any lingering doubt.

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Jake O'Brien briefly sparked celebrations when he guided in a powerful header from an Everton corner five minutes after Van de Ven’s opener. The video assistant referee was quickly involved, however, as Craig Pawson was instructed to examine the incident on the pitchside screen. The referee ruled that Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye had stood in offside positions, impeding goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Beto passed up several promising openings, while Vicario produced a string of assured saves to secure a fifth consecutive away league match without defeat for Tottenham.

After this defeat, Everton stay 14th in the table and are only six points clear of the relegation places.

Fans respond to the defeat

Alex: We are crying out for a proper goalscoring striker. Beto works tirelessly, but he is simply not at the required level, and we were badly exposed from set pieces.

Ryan: This scoreline feels like an accurate snapshot of our current standing, which is a long way from the top half. Until we can play incisive passes in behind opposition defences, we will remain straightforward to contain. Our wide players are excellent, but there is nothing coming from the nine and 10 through the centre.

Chris: We have become completely predictable, and teams have figured us out in no time. We are far too slow in possession, making it simple for opponents to defend against us.

Leo: That was dreadful. No focal point up top. No invention. Grealish has so much intent, but he has nobody on the same wavelength.