Kane breaks more records
● Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane became the London club’s top Premier League goalscorer with 98 goals after his second-half brace helped the hosts thump Everton 4-0 at Wembley Stadium last night.
The in-form England international, who took his tally in all competitions this season to 28 goals, matched Teddy Sheringham’s feat after he tapped in Son Heung-min’s through ball after the restart before prodding in Eric Dier’s cross on the hour mark.
Midfielder Son earlier scored in his fifth straight league game to put the hosts ahead 1-0 in the 26th minute after darting in to tap home Serge Aurier’s cross after Christian Eriksen found the right back with a floated pass in the 26th minute.
With Everton’s defence in tatters, Eriksen completed the rout by collecting fellow midfielder Dele Alli’s clever flick-on before beating Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with a crisp finish in the 81st minute.
Son collected the man-of-the-match award.
West Ham United produced their most impressive performance of the season to thrash Huddersfield Town 4-1 and continue their rise up the table as the Premier League relegation battle became all the more difficult to call.
With most of the leading clubs idle, and third-placed Chelsea held to a goalless draw by Leicester City, attention switched to the scrap at the bottom with Crystal Palace also winning against Burnley, who provided further evidence that their season may be running out of steam.
When David Moyes took over as West Ham manager many observers questioned his ability to get the team scoring again. But the Scot has proved all the doubters wrong with the Hammers scoring 12 goals from his last five league games in charge.
A Manuel Lanzini double plus strikes from Mark Noble and Marko Arnautovic gave the visitors a comfortable victory that took them above Huddersfield, for whom Joe Lolley scored and new £14-million signing Alex Pritchard came on as a substitute.
At Selhurst Park, Palace’s revival under Roy Hodgson continued with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burnley which put them five points above the relegation zone.
Watford fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Southampton, although they benefited from a controversial second goal from Abdoulaye Doucoure.
A seventh Premier League defeat in eight games looked likely for Marco Silva’s side after James Ward-Prowse scored twice but Andre Gray set up a thrilling finale, with Doucoure eventually scoring, though video replays suggested the ball had been handled into the net.
The controversy came days after the video assistant referee (VAR) system was introduced in English football for the first time, though the technology was not available at Vicarage Road. Had it been, Watford’s Troy Deeney admitted the goal might not have stood.
“If VAR comes in, we probably wouldn’t have got it,” he said.
Alan Pardew was another manager breathing easier after West Bromwich Albion beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 to record their first win in 21 league games and his first in nine as their manager.
Both Albion goals came via headers from Chris Brunt corners, with Jonny Evans and Craig Dawson rising above Brighton’s defence.
There was less excitement at Chelsea, who recorded their fourth goalless draw in seven games as Leicester hung on despite the 68th-minute dismissal of defender Ben Chilwell for a second yellow-card offence.
Bottom side Swansea City will be disappointed to only come away with a point after Jordan Ayew gave them the lead at Newcastle United, who equalised through substitute Joselu.
Swansea are now four points off safety, with fellow strugglers Bournemouth and Stoke City in action today and Monday respectively.
Liverpool entertain leaders Manchester City in the weekend’s top fixture today. — Reuters
Palace beat Burnley, whose season may be running out of steam