Everton (Away) 16.04.2021

Orson Welles might have written Citizen Kane, but this was the Sigurdsson-Kane show, with both players scoring two goals for a share of the points at Goodison Park.  After a placid first half when Spurs had taken the lead only to be pegged back by Gylfi’s penalty, given for a soft contact on Rodriguez, the second half was better with chances shared and Tottenham hitting the woodwork twice as Kane equalized a Sigurdsson strike to make it 2-2 before limping off, after Richarlison fell on his ankle.

It wasn’t a classic like Welles’ masterpiece, because it was scattered with errors, mistakes and inconsistencies – probably like Orson’s first draft.  It made for a game with goal-scoring opportunities, saves and near misses, but, in truth, the draw helped neither side, who on this showing will struggle if they get anywhere near the Champions League. 

Apart from a shot from Gylfi Sigurdsson that swerved wide and too high, nothing happened in the first 20 minutes apart from PEH getting a booking for pulling Gylfi back in what was a slow and uninspiring start to the game.  It was 21 minutes before Richarlison hit a shot that Lloris dived low and left to push it aside.  Spurs got forward and moved the ball across from right to left in front of the Everton box, with Reguilon and Ndombele involved before Tanguy crossed the ball.  Keane got underneath it and got a faint touch that took the ball over Holgate’s attempted diving header to fall for Harry Kane in the middle of the goal, six yards out.  He had the presence of mind to take a touch, then sweep it powerfully past Pickford into the bottom corner to the keeper’s right with his left foot.   It was another expert finish from Harry with a chance that was presented to him by some comedy (not too much of that in Citizen Kane) defending.

Not that going ahead means much and Everton had a penalty a few minute later, when James pulled his foot back to shoot as the ball came across and Reguilon was behind him.  The Colombian hit the floor and the referee pointed to the spot.  So, half an hour gone and Gylfi Sigurdsson sent Lloris the wrong way with the ball nestling in the bottom left hand corner of Hugo’s net.

Richarlison won a free-kick shortly after the goal and Gylfi took it, but hit the wall from 22 yards out, then Rodriguez had a shot from outside the box that was straight into Hugo’s midriff and a minute later, Sigurdsson returned Rodriguez’s pass and James drilled a shot at goal that Lloris reacted to well to push away.  Tottenham’s only effort on goal during the spell of Everton pressure came from 45 yards out, when Kane tried to catch Pickford off his line, but the shot went a long way wide.  In added time, Rodriguez swung in a left wing free-kick and Godfrey raced in behind everyone, but couldn’t control his header that went wide and then unsurprisingly,  Richarlison adopted his favourite position … flat out on the ground … after he ran into Toby and Rodon in the box next time the ball came in.

The start of the second half saw Everton have a couple of corners, the last of which Richarlison headed over, but then Tottenham won a couple, the second from Son’s run into the box when he tried a shot from a narrow angle.  He played the corner in, which skidded in low through a mass of legs, but it dropped for a home shirt to clear.  Harry turned Allan well and played it square for Ndombele to shoot from the edge of the box, with a heavy deflection off Digne taking the ball just over the bar with Pickford struggling.  The keeper was also struggling when Alderweireld won the header at the near post from Son’s corner and the ball hit the outside of the post.  

Moussa Sissoko plays his 200th Spurs game.
Lucas Moura makes his 100th Premier League appearance for Tottenham.