Three main positives from Tottenham’s 5-0 win over Everton

Everything clicked perfectly for Tottenham in their 5-0 drubbing of Everton last night, as the home side scored in bunches and kept a clean sheet for the second match running. 

For some peculiar reason, Everton played right into Tottenham’s hands.

Frank Lampard showed unbelievable naivety as he attempted to play an enterprising, offensive brand of football, which, especially in the first half, backfired miserably. Spurs had less of the ball but countered with lethal potency in the first 45 minutes.

Heard that story before?

It’s exactly the way Antonio Conte drew it up pre-match. Spurs conceded possession early, knowing they’d get their chances on the break against a side that is incredibly vulnerable on the counter. Everton has the worst away record in the top flight, which Spurs made abundantly apparent with a prolific display.

Here’s the three primary positive takeaways from an impressive evening’s work at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

3. Harry Kane back to his prolific best

Tottenham’s talisman was back to his vintage best, bagging a brace in quintessential Harry Kane style. Kane contributed to Tottenham’s opener by harrying and harassing Michael Keane, who volleyed into his own net from close range. Without Kane’s incessant pressure, Keane would have surely cleared to safety.

Kane also got in on the act on Spurs’ remaining goals four goals in one way or another. He set up Dejan Kulusevski, who knocked on for Son Heung-min’s 17th minute goal before bagging his first on the night in the 37th minute. Gifted with an uncanny knack of staying onside while getting a jump on the rearguard, Kane’s timing on penetrating runs is absolutely immaculate. He has been incorrectly flagged — or VAR’ed — for offside in previous games (away to Wolves comes to mind) but got this one spot on. And his finish was as assured as we’ve come to expect from Kane, contrasting his early season form in front of goal.

Kane then started the move that eventually saw Sergio Reguilon score from close range and, to cap off a near-flawless match, enjoyed his best touch of the evening, a wonderfully struck left-footed volley from an acute angle. Not only did he time the volley perfectly, he struck it as it came over his shoulder, an incredibly hard skill to master.

It was a matter of time before Kane started scoring for fun again. He now has five goals in four matches and surpassed Thierry Henry on the all-time Premier League goalscoring chart. Oh, and with 10 goals he’s now just two behind Sadio Mane, the league’s second top scorer.