Kane scores twice as Tottenham maul meek Everton

Tottenham produced a five-star showing on Monday Night Football as Harry Kane scored twice in a 5-0 thrashing of relegation-threatened Everton.

In a thoroughly one-sided contest, Tottenham were 3-0 ahead by half-time after Michael Keane’s own goal (14) was added to by Heung-Min Son three minutes later, the South Korean’s shot flashing underneath Jordan Pickford’s body.

Things got even worse for the visitors before half-time as Kane ran onto Matt Doherty’s pass to reverse his shot into the net, with the goal upheld upon VAR review despite a marginal offside call (37).

Frank Lampard sought to address matters by replacing Keane at the interval but his side were further behind 44 seconds after the restart as half-time substitute Sergio Reguilon swept home from Dejan Kulusevski’s cross at the far post.

Tottenham were not done there, as Doherty was given too much time to pick out Kane at the far post for a superb volley back across Pickford’s goal into the far corner with 35 minutes still to play.

The result means Spurs remain in seventh on 45 points but with two games still in hand over West Ham and Manchester United above them and three points off Arsenal in fourth place, who have played a game fewer.

This was a damaging loss for Everton, who remain in 17th place – one point outside the bottom three – but with a goal difference that is now four inferior to Burnley who occupy the final position in the relegation zone.

How scintillating Spurs embarrassed Everton

Lampard clenched his fists in front of the travelling fans on his last visit here as Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 in December 2019 but he stood with his arms crossed and a permanent frown for much of his contest.

Everton’s poor away form predates their current manager but Lampard has now lost all three of his away Premier League games, and in an alarming manner.

No side have collected fewer away points than the six Everton have mustered across the entire season. The visitors actually made an encouraging start in possession, but any growing optimism was blown away in a three-minute period that left Lampard looking to the skies.

Ryan Sessegnon is enjoying a career revival under Antonio Conte and the left wing-back played a crucial role in his side’s opener as his determined run and cross led to Keane’s hapless own goal under pressure from Kane’s dart to the near post.

It was Keane’s error which led to Phil Foden’s winning strike last weekend, and his own goal which decided this fixture two seasons ago during Project Restart. But Everton were still picking themselves up from their own misfortune when another individual mistake extended Tottenham’s lead.

Mason Holgate was too slow to cut out Kulusevski’s through ball as Son surprised Pickford with an early shot which squirmed under the body of the England goalkeeper on his 200th Premier League appearance.

Having been on the wrong side of a contentious handball decision against Manchester City, Lampard would be cursing VAR eight minutes before the break when Kane was played fractionally onside by Holgate to sweep in a third.

By then, the striker had already lashed a rebound wide after Pickford had saved from Son. Doherty also had gone close with a close-range effort, with Everton’s defence all at sea.

Something had to change, and Keane was hooked at the break after taking a blow to the face in the dying embers of the first half but it was a Spurs change that instantly made a difference.

Sessegnon was taken off as a precaution, and his replacement Reguilon was celebrating within a minute as the lively Kulusevski selflessly picked out the onrushing wing-back for his second Premier League goal.

Tottenham fans resorted to gallows humour with chants of “sacked in the morning” towards the forlorn former Chelsea manager, but Lampard stood motionless, as his mannequins in blue did too when Tottenham added a brilliant fifth.

Conte seems to have settled on Doherty at right wing-back and, like Sessegnon, he is taking his chance, as the Irishman’s pass picked out Kane for a superb volley back across Pickford in much the same way he scored recently against Leeds.

Dele Alli was introduced with 20 minutes remaining and given a warm reception from the home supporters. There were very few Everton fans left inside to hear the final whistle.

Lampard’s biggest defeat – Opta stats

Tottenham have scored 4+ goals in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since December 2018 (5-0 v Bournemouth and 6-2 v Everton), with their haul of nine goals in their last two top-flight games as many as they managed in their previous seven.Everton’s haul of 22 points after 25 games in the Premier League this season if their lowest total at this stage of a top-flight season in the club’s history.This was Everton boss Frank Lampard’s heaviest defeat as a manager in all competitions.Everton are winless in their last 11 Premier League away games (D2 L9), their longest run without a win on the road within the same Premier League campaign since another run of 11 between December and May in 2003-04.

What’s next?

Spurs take on Man Utd at Old Trafford on Saturday at 5.30pm in a game you can see live on Sky Sports Premier League, while Everton host Wolves on Sunday at 2pm.