Kane scores twice as Spurs keep the pressure on Chelsea
Ninth consecutive home league win puts Tottenham seven points behind the leaders
Tottenham 3 Everton 2
Tottenham survived a late scare to see off Everton and close the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to seven points. In doing so Spurs posted a club record ninth consecutive home league win, and the north London side still believe they can reel in their rivals, who travel to West Ham United this evening.
"We played very well today and controlled the game and then all of a sudden it was a nervy end," said Harry Kane, whose two goals set Spurs on their way. "It's an important win, we should have won by more but it's another step closer to the top of the table."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Explaining that he feels "fitter than ever", the England striker said he won't be sitting on the fence this evening. "We want West Ham to win against Chelsea, we don't normally say that."
Kane can say what he likes as far as the Spurs faithful are concerned, after another scintillating display that began with a 30-yard screamer in the first half that nearly burst the visitors net. It was goal number 18 of the season for Kane and number 19 came ten minutes after the break, handed to him on a plate by slack Toffees defending. Morgan Schneiderlin was caught in possession by Mousa Dembele and the loose ball was duly dispatched by Kane past Joel Robles.
At 2-0 Tottenham appeared to be cruising towards three easy points but nine minutes from time Romelu Lukaku breathed life back into the game, seizing on a slip from Jan Vertonghen to score his 61st Premier League goal for the club, an Everton record.
Dele Alli restored Tottenham's two goal advantage in the second minutes of stoppage time by getting on the end of a free-kick from Harry Winks but 60 seconds later it was 3-2 as Enner Valencia profited from another set-piece.
That made for a nervy final two minutes for the home fans but Spurs clung on to close the gap on the Blues.
So too did Manchester City who won away at Sunderland on Sunday and are now a point behind Spurs.
"Overall Tottenham were the stronger team," conceded Everton manager Ronald Koeman, who said that they should serve as an example to his players. "Tottenham have two or three years in a row with the same players, it's all about time which is what we need to have. If we get the time to improve, that's the next step for the club."
The next step for Tottenham - after this weekend's FA Cup sixth round tie against Millwall - is another home league match, this time against Southampton. "The most important thing is to show that we believe and today we showed that more than talk or speak," said Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
But he also recognised that self-belief alone won't be enough. "It's not up to us, of course, but it's up to us to be there if they [Chelsea] fail," said Pochettino. "The gap is seven points. I'd like to be closer than seven points but if you keep going in that way maybe we will achieve. It's up to us to keep our form and be a little bit lucky if Chelsea fail."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Women are getting their own baseball league again
In the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Giant TVs are becoming the next big retail commodity
Under the Radar Some manufacturers are introducing TVs over 8 feet long
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?
The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Can England's Euros team hold their nerve?
Today's Big Question Three Lions' 'lopsided' opening win over Serbia raises more questions than it answers
By The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
‘Captain fantastic’: Harry Kane’s most memorable England goals
feature Kane has overtaken Wayne Rooney as the Three Lions’s all-time leading goalscorer
By Mike Starling Published