Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ANNUS MIRACULOUS SIX SHOOTERS
Regal Tottenham send their own Christmas message to the rest of the Premier League
AS Christmas messages go, this was as calm and regal as anything Her Maj delivers.
It could not have been clearer from Tottenham: it is a Threehorse title race, and they are moving up on the rails.
No one should question their credentials after this dismantling – humiliation even – of Everton, which saw Spurs move to within two points of second-placed Manchester City.
They have won seven of their last eight Premier League games and have recorded their best start to a top-flight campaign... the 1960-61 title-winning season aside. Spurs fans old enough to remember would suggest this is the best team since those imperious Double winners and with good reason, because Goodison Park was treated to a magnificent display of clinical, compelling football.
In truth, there were few fans left to witness perhaps the best performance in the Premier League by any team so far this season, because the home support had largely disappeared by the 74th minute, when Harry Kane scored the visitors’ sixth.
The thousands scrambling to depart were treated to a raucous chorus of “You should have gone Christmas shopping” from the Tottenham fans.
Kane was reluctant to say his side can win the league, but there is no way anyone can now dismiss them from the calculations, because they have the firepower to sustain their incredible form. They showed spirit too... a commodity required to become Champions.
It is hard to comprehend now, but they went a goal down and were lucky to not be two behind.
Everton flattered early on when Gylfi Sigurdsson almost scored, and then Dominic Calvert-lewin’s cross was converted by Theo Walcott, who celebrated by pointing to the sky in tribute to his deceased
grandfather.
Soon after, Calvert-lewin was unlucky to have a fine header ruled out for an innocuous touch on Davinson Sanchez. That though, served merely to awaken the tiger within Spurs.
Three minutes later the visitors were level, thanks to an awful mistake from keeper Jordan Pickford, who was involved in an embarrassing mix-up with Kurt Zouma, allowing Son Heung-min to nick the ball and find the net brilliantly.
And it signalled a shocking Everton collapse, which must ask questions about their coach and his selection decisions. Marco Silva seemed perplexed by Son’s role alongside Kane, and also produced a midfield
that was outplayed and outnumbered.
Tottenham were ahead on 36 minutes when Moussa Sissoko burst forward, produced a fine ball and when Son’s shot was saved Dele Alli was alert to fire home the rebound. Then Kane did the same when Kieran Trippier’s free-kick hit the post.
From there it was a Christmas procession, with the sublime Christian Eriksen adding a fourth from outside the box from Seamus Coleman’s clearance.
Sigurdsson, Everton’s one decent performer, replied swiftly with a brilliant jinking run and a fine finish, but that was a brief respite.
The fifth came an hour into the game, as sub Erik Lamela – on for the injured Alli, who was the victim of a poor challenge from Pickford – sent Son through, and even though there was a hint of offside the Korean finished with ease.
There was still time for Kane to condemn Everton to their biggest ever home defeat at the hands of Spurs.
Those Blues fans left booed at the end, but this was about Spurs, and this was about the title race – one that contains three genuine contenders.