A detailed look at the performance of Tottenham's second-best player vs. Toffees

Had it not been for a pair of Richarlison wonder goals, van de Ven would have been named Tottenham's man of the match. The Dutchman was arguably Tottenham's best signing of the summer transfer window, and that's saying something considering the immeasurable influence James Maddison has had on proceedings since landing in N17.

The 22-year-old accelerates like being ejected from a weapons-grade slingshot. It's the primary reason Spurs can play such a high line without being punished more often. The perfect contingency plan, van de Ven offers an all-encompassing safety net. Thanks to van de Ven's unrivalled ability to make up ground and execute a perfectly timed last-gasp tackle, Tottenham can play such a high defensive line without being punished more often.

His priceless pace was on display throughout Saturday's match on Merseyside, with van de Ven seemingly effortlessly chasing down Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison, both of whom looked like morbidly obese slugs in comparison. While his electric pace is inarguably his most coveted asset, van de Ven has all the attributes to become the Premier League's best central defender.

Micky van de Ven enjoyed excellent all-round performance against Toffees

While seeing him zip down the pitch like a Toyota Supra MK IV in a street race was the most apparent highlight, van de Ven also enjoyed a solid outing analytically speaking. He had three tackles, second only to Destiny Udogie's otherworldly seven, one interception, one block, and five clearances, the most of any Spur. He also completed 96 percent of his passes, 11 percent better than Cristian Romero.

Football.london gave van de Ven a 9/10, the same rating Tottenham HQ presented the Dutchman. The contest against the Toffees marked van de Ven's third match since returning from a nine-game, two-and-a-half-month injury layoff, making his performance on Merseyside even more impressive. It's impossible to describe how important van de Ven is to Ange's long-term project. To reinforce the point, Tottenham is unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches when van de Ven played more than 45 minutes. 

During his absence, which includes the 1-4 defeat to Chelsea in which he injured his hamstring, Spurs lost five, tied one, and won four. Ange will be acutely aware of the stark contrast. van de Ven's place in the team is as important, if not more so, than Maddison or Sonny's, a true testament to how well van de Ven has acquitted himself to the world's most competitive league.