Anjishnu Roy 26/10/2025 20comments  |  Jump to last

Everton suffered a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on a rain-soaked night at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday.

The Toffees’ unbeaten run at their new waterfront home has come to an end. Everton's defence was breached from a set-piece for the first time this season after Micky Van de Ven headed a brace from two corner-kicks. Sandwiched between Van de Ven’s goals was a Jake O’Brien equaliser that VAR hilariously ruled out.

Chasing two goals in the second half, Everton did take the game to the visitors and created a couple of strong chances. 

Beto had a great chance where he adjusted his body to a deflected cross from Iliman Ndiaye and set up a scissor kick, only to see his great effort saved by Guglielmo Vicario. Ndiaye also found a little space to unleash a shot after playing a one-two with Thierno Barry, but Vicario was once again up to the task, reacting late to a couple of deflections.

However, there was no way back as Everton committed too many men forward and Richarlison set up Pape Matar Sarr for a third goal just a minute before the end to put the hosts out of their misery.

Here are the player ratings from Everton's 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur:

Jordan Pickford: 5

There was little Jordan Pickford could do about the opening goal but perhaps, the Everton goalie could've been stronger to ward off the physicality from Van de Ven for the second goal. Made a big save off former teammate Richarlison towards the end.

Jake O’Brien (replaced by Merlin Rohl at 66’): 5

O'Brien was unfortunate to see his equaliser ruled out after referee Craig Pawson was called by VAR to review the pitchside monitor. Offered little besides the goal and was taken off in the second half.

James Tarkowski: 5

Tarkowski was guilty of not following Van de Ven for the second goal and struggled for pace against Tottenham's attackers. He was also slow in reaching Richarlison's headed layoff for Pape Sarr in the final minutes.

Michael Keane: 5.5

Made a great challenge on Xavi Simons early in the game and produced several headed clearances and interceptions. Was guilty of letting Van de Ven escape his attention for the second goal, much like his defensive partner Tarkowski.

Vitalii Mykolenko: 4.5

Defensively timid and had a tough time up against the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson. The Ukrainian also offered little going forward and lacked quality while in possession.

Idrissa Gueye (replaced by Charly Alcaraz at 85’): 5.5

Idrissa Gueye had an average game but wasn't adventurous enough while on the ball. His pass to Beto after intercepting a Spurs possession loss in their own half was sloppy and could've led to a clear goal-scoring opportunity, not that I would trust Beto to convert a potential 1v1 either way.

James Garner: 6

Tested Vicario from distance in the first half and worked his socks off in the middle of the park. Garner was pushed to right-back to replace O'Brien once Merlin Rohl came on in the second half. Misjudged the weight of the cross to Richarlison who set up the third goal in the dying minutes.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 5

His corner delivery for O'Brien's cancelled second goal was inch-perfect. Was involved in a couple of driving runs up the pitch but faded in the second half and couldn't kick on.

Iliman Ndiaye: 7.5

Iliman Ndiaye was once again the best player for Everton and put in another sublime shift on the right flank. He beat the attention of his markers constantly and set up delicious balls for Beto which the Guinea-Bissau international failed to capitalise on. Ndiaye also tested Vicario with a low driven shot in the second half and also put in the cross for Beto's overhead kick attempt which was also kept out by the Spurs keeper. 

Beto (replaced by Thierno Barry at 66’): 4

Another night to forget for the Blues' number nine as Everton's striker problem grows more and more concerning with every matchday. Beto found himself with a glorious chance to finish off Ndiaye's mazy run and cross but the ball went straight through his legs. Fans are left asking questions about how the match would've gone had Beto converted his chance in the opening minutes for the umpteenth time this season. To his credit, he adjusted his body well to unleash an overhead kick from Ndiaye's cross in the second half, bringing out a fantastic save off Vicario.

Jack Grealish: 7

Returning to the side after missing the clash against Manchester City last weekend, Grealish kept probing and had his shot saved by Pedro Porro on the goal line following Beto's miss early on. He enjoyed more space in the second half and made a few key passes without causing too much threat. Both Grealish and Ndiaye were deemed to be offside for O'Brien's goal, leading to the cancellation of the equaliser.

Substitutions

Merlin Rohl: 6

Merlin Rohl looked impressive during his short stay on the pitch and strung moves effectively in both the defensive and attacking thirds. Will be an interesting player to watch out for in the coming weeks as he continues to adapt to the side after returning from injury following his Deadline Day signing.

Thierno Barry: 6

His game looked more polished than Beto's after coming on and Thierno Barry also had a shot from the edge of the box which was blocked. 

Charly Alcaraz: N/A

 

Reader Comments (20)

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Jim Bennings
1 Posted 26/10/2025 at 19:55:41
Very generous with the ratings for me.

Tarkowski I wouldn't give more than a 4 at best, yet again the decision to offer a contract extension seems hasty as it's a player looking on the decline.

We were one-half wonders as usual, Ndiaye played well for one half which seems to be the limit at the moment, and when he doesn't play well, we don't seem to play well.

Grealish was okay but little end product and he is supplying ammunition to a gun with no trigger unfortunately.

Joe Hurst
2 Posted 26/10/2025 at 20:22:16
An accurate review of every Everton player in tonight’s game:
…Shite
Paul Hewitt
3 Posted 26/10/2025 at 20:24:34
I do often wonder why getting beaten by a better team makes you shit?
John Williams
4 Posted 26/10/2025 at 20:27:49
I blame Moyes, he should have played the tea lady in midfield and chosen a couple of burly stewards from the stands to play in the centre of defence.

I presume some on here will blame Moyes for picking the wrong team!!

Ralph Basnett
5 Posted 26/10/2025 at 20:28:30
The players are playing to the best of their ability; unfortunately, it isn't good enough. The squad problem is down to owners and manager.

Owners gave Moyes money and he has chosen to bring in a forward that isn't ready and failed to recruit right and left backs.

We have very little pace in the team and everyone we play exploits that.

The only way any youth get experience is sending them out?

Same shit... just a different location!

Bill Fairfield
6 Posted 26/10/2025 at 20:45:54
Huffed and puffed, but we desperately need a striker and a couple of strong running attacking full-backs.

Until then, it's plod on with what we've got. A long way to go yet.

Tom Bowers
7 Posted 26/10/2025 at 20:58:41
I agree we are not blessed at full-back. Jake is not a full-back and Mykolenko is quite slow on the turn and is often beaten.

However, the offensive side of things is very weak but we have to suffer it until at least January.

If Jack and Iliman are snuffed out, then we will struggle, as they did today. Most teams will realise this.

Craig Scott
8 Posted 26/10/2025 at 21:39:39
It seems clear to me that Grealish and Ndiaye are our biggest attacking threats but they do so from the flanks. There isn't anyone in the middle running off and firing shots from the deployed lone striker.

Defences can just double up on the striker in the middle and snuff out their threat, which in Beto's case isn't great.

I support the idea of trying either Ndiaye or Grealish interchanging as a false nine with Dibling on the right. Today demonstrated that we should try something different as we had good possession in promising positions on the flanks but no threat when the balls were swung in to the middle.

David Bromwell
9 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:01:06
I couldn't go today so had to watch on telly, with sound down.

Very familiar current Everton performance, which in part is nice to watch but we simply cannot finish.

Obviously we also struggled every time Tottenham crossed the ball into our box... worrying as our back line has traditionally been more resilient.

Ryan Holroyd
10 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:06:18
Could someone please tell me what exactly Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall does?

£25M and he's not even as good as Alcaraz.

Robert Williams
11 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:06:19
I've no idea how Grealish gets a 7. To my mind, all he does lately (after bursting on the scene) is slow the play down, doing his own little 'cameo' on the touchline.

The whole team was poor today. Did Beto split his pants with that overhead kick he tried?

We appear to be settling into a pattern of mediocrity, but maybe that is what Moyes is trying to achieve at this stage of the season, so that the owners will take notice and cough up some more ackers for another inflow of uselessness.

I will be away, so will miss the next two games. Let's hope there is an improvement by the time I get back!!

Ryan Holroyd
12 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:12:02
Robert - I agree with you about Grealish. All he does is gets the ball, slows the play down, checks inside, or gives to Mykolenko.

No wonder Man City got rid.

Them three of Ndiaye, Grealish and the dreadful Dewsbury-Hall are basically the same players. Fur coat and no knickers comes to mind.

Ryan Holroyd
13 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:17:21
it's like watching the same clip on repeat with Grealish. He does his shuffling, stuttering run with two defenders in front of him, then has to lay it off usually backwards or square, and the attack expires. Or wins a free kick which we just wack into the area.. Never looks look like scoring. Doesn't look like setting anything up. He is a bit of a one-trick pony.

12m in wages with no return.


Jim Bennings
14 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:29:43
Ryan

Probably not easy when you have a carthorse in front of you, a full back that hasn't got a clue how to overlap you, a middle of the park that doesn't take up a position around or in the box to give you a target to hit.

I imagine Grealish would look a much much better player if he had prime Leighton Baines passing him by, or Lukaku showing for passes up front or even a player like Naismith in this side that could take up dangerous position in the box.

All we do is pass to him then stand there watching him almost with the attitude of "right you do it yourself Jack we've passed the ball to you"

I've seen more movement in a tortoise tank than you get from our attacks.

Jim Bennings
15 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:36:30
More concerned for me are the following.

How on earth have we persisted with one of the most un-modern left backs in the league in Mykolenko who can't run, can't pass, crossing awful, and is just so unlike the majority of fullbacks in this era, yet we have churned him out for four years.

How on earth we identified needing to replace Seamus Coleman way back in 2019 when we signed Djibril Sidibe, but somehow still haven't replaced him.

How did we persist with DCL from 2017 to 2025 knowing he'd been injury prone and not good enough for 4 of those seasons, yet still have not signed a striker that can even look like he's been trained professionally.

We are watching a very much declining central defender in James Tarkowski yet wanting to offer a new two year contract.

Those are bigger concerns at this club for me right now.

Jim Bennings
16 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:40:33
Our midfield still lacks any real bite, any real power or pace.

That's why I wanted to sign Kubo and John McGinn.

People didn't want McGinn but I tell you one thing, he'd have improved our midfield no end.

I wanted us to push the boat out on Kubo and was erring towards that move ahead of Dibling.

Ryan Holroyd
17 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:49:17
Agree in part with what you say Jim. Although he was doing the same at city so who knows. He definitely slows the play down a lot.

In answer to your questions, because the club is rotten to its core.

Has been for decades and aint changing soon. Pitiful really.

As I say. Were the most pointless, sterile, 1970s style football club as there is.

I mean fans clapping ‘Richy’ when we’re getting beat 2-0.

Absolutely pathetic

Jerome Shields
18 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:51:21
Jim#16

McGinn would have made a big difference, but playing for Moyes didn't seem to be a incentive.I suspect Kubo was similar.

Ryan Holroyd
19 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:53:18
Or he was happy at Villa Jerome

Ryan Holroyd
20 Posted 26/10/2025 at 22:55:27
I wish the club would just fold and end this misery they inflict on us every year.

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