Tottenham’s Jekyll and Hyde form continued as they followed the FA Cup humiliation at Middlesbrough by thrashing Everton 5-0, lifting the gloom.
The result boosted Spurs’ Champions League hopes, moving Antonio Conte’s side to with three points of fourth-placed Arsenal and two behind Manchester United ahead of Saturday’s visit to Old Trafford.
The match bore certain similarities to last weekend’s 4-0 win at Leeds as Spurs punished a dismal opponent who played into their hands.
Like Leeds, Everton made it easy for Conte’s side as Frank Lampard’s high defensive line and attempt to press the hosts left wide open spaces for the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son to ruthlessly exploit.
A Michael Keane own goal set Spurs away, and Kane finished with a brilliant brace to move ahead of Thierry Henry on the list of all-time Premier League goal-scorers, while Son and Sergio Reguilon added to the scoreline, finishing fine team moves.
Notwithstanding Everton’s shortcomings, Spurs can only beat what is in front of them and along with the wins over Leeds and Manchester City, this was a reminder that Conte is building an exhilarating attacking side – at least when they are in the mood and against certain opponents.
The recent midweek defeats to ‘Boro and Burnley remain cause for caution when assessing Spurs’ hopes of a top-four finish but a major reason for optimism is their form when they have time and days to prepare for matches – a point Conte made afterwards.
With Spurs out of all three cup competitions and with 12 league games remaining, they will largely have one match a week until the end of the campaign, which should increase hopes of a late surge up the table.
Peerless Kane surpasses Henry
There were a number of positives for Spurs, including Mat Doherty (more on him below), the returning Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, who continued his impressive adaption to English football with two assists.
There was little doubt about the star of the show again, however, as Kane scored twice, including a sublime left-foot volley – not dissimilar to his goal at Elland Road last weekend.
The brace moved him above Henry – onto 176 goals, fifth on the Premier League’s all-time list of scorers.
Conte has repeatedly said that Kane can be better – a prospect which was difficult to imagine at the end of last season – and the striker does appear an even more complete player now.
He took both goals superbly and once again looked capable of doing things that no-one else on the pitch could manage.
Doherty outstanding
Matt Doherty had unquestionably his best game for Spurs as he set up both Kane’s goals with impressive passes.
The wing-back stepped into the role of playmaker with a perfectly-weighted first-time pass for Kane’s first goal before sending a brilliantly floated ball over Everton’s defence, which was volleyed home by the England captain.
Doherty might have finished with a goal, too, but his fierce effort in the first half was well-saved by Jordan Pickford.
The Irishman opened his account for Spurs at Leeds last weekend and a second consecutive standout performance suggests he is finally starting to become a true Conte wing-back.
With Reguilon on the scoresheet and an assist for Ryan Sessegnon before he was forced off with another muscle injury, it was a good night all round for the wing-backs, further underlining Conte’s belief that his system is starting to work.
