Kane’s double nails Everton
LIVERPOOL: Harry Kane placed his by-now customary August problems firmly behind him, scoring twice as Tottenham’s emphatic 3-0 victory against Everton at Goodison Park announced a return to form for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Christian Eriksen scored in between Kane’s two goals as Spurs maintained a run, dating back to last season, which has seen them win four consecutive away league games while scoring 18 goals.
While Pochettino will be relieved to get the win his Everton counterpart Ronald Koeman -who gave Wayne Rooney a start despite his displeasure at the former England star’s arrest for drink driving -- may begin to feel the pressure with their second successive defeat.
Kane struck on 28 minutes in bizarre fashion after Kieran Trippier’s mis-hit left-wing corner had reached him at a wide angle on the right.
The England forward, who since he became a Spurs regular has failed to score in August, spied Jordan Pickford off his line and what appeared to be an attempted cross drifted over the goalkeeper into the top corner.
It was Kane’s 100th goal for the club and continued his remarkable pattern of barren Augusts being followed by almost relentless productivity.
Eriksen scored an equally scrappy effort after 41 minutes that put the visitors firmly in control after Cuco Martina failed badly to clear Dele Alli’s far-post cross.
Full-back Ben Davies saw his initial shot saved by Pickford but Eriksen responded first to pounce on the rebound and convert into the gaping net.
Koeman made two half-time substitutions but any hope of a comeback was removed after just 47 seconds when Kane scored his second.
There was again a distinct lack of quality defending as Davies was allowed the space to curl in a cross which Kane met with an emphatic side-footed finish from no more than six yards.
Strangely, the game had started brightly for Everton and Rooney.
After six minutes, he linked excellently with full-back Martina who ran onto Rooney’s return pass and his driven, near-post cross was turned just wide by Spanish striker Sandro. - AFP