Have Everton started their road to recovery?
Everton 3 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur
Everton began their road to recovery under returning manager David Moyes with an impressive victory at Goodison Park, piling further pressure on Tottenham's under-fire boss, Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs were disjointed and vulnerable for large parts of the game, as a revitalised Everton side – who had only managed three Premier League wins and 15 goals all season before this match – dominated proceedings.
The Toffees raced to a well-deserved 3-0 lead by half-time and, despite a late Tottenham fightback, the final scoreline flattered the visitors, failing to capture the gulf in performance between the two teams.
With both sides desperate for points, Everton swept Spurs aside in a blistering first half, laying the foundation for a crucial victory that condemned Postecoglou's side to their seventh defeat in 10 league matches.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin broke a 1,288-minute Premier League goal drought dating back to September, skillfully turning Archie Gray twice in the box before coolly wrong-footing Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
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It's a grand old team: What else been happening at Goodison Park?
Although Jordan Pickford denied Son Heung-min twice, Everton looked a completely transformed side. They doubled their lead on the half-hour mark when Iliman Ndiaye dazzled Radu Dragusin with quick footwork before smashing the ball high into the net past Kinsky.
Everton’s dream first half was capped in stoppage time when James Tarkowski’s header deflected off Calvert-Lewin before striking Archie Gray and rolling into the Spurs net for an own goal.
Tottenham improved after the break, pulling one back through Dejan Kulusevski's clever chipped finish with 13 minutes to go. Former Everton man Richarlison added further tension by bundling the ball home in injury time.
However, Everton held their nerve to secure a well-earned win, giving Moyes a triumphant return and providing the home fans with a rare afternoon to savour.
Are Spurs fans turning on their manager and squad?
Is this the beginning of the end for Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham Hotspur manager? After months of sticking to his principles, Sunday’s performance against Everton suggested even he might be losing faith in his approach.
Postecoglou has repeatedly defended his system, vowing not to change it regardless of injuries, game situations, or external criticism. Yet, for the clash at Goodison Park, he deviated from his philosophy and opted for a back three. The result? A tactical misstep that was glaringly evident from the outset.
Greg, a Spurs fan who was in the away end, told us: "The first half was disappointing. The team showed some improvement in the second half, but it was too late to make a difference; the damage had already been done. While injuries are a factor, the main players aren't performing well either, with the exception of Dejan. Many fans are reaching their limit with the constant losing. I’m typically not in favor of changing managers, but I’m not seeing any improvement in the team performance."
