FRANKLY, IT’S HUMILIATING
Two-goal Kane leads the charge as Spurs click into top gear but it is looking ominous for Everton and their new boss Lampard
TOTTENHAM’S ridiculous rollercoaster of a season hit another high last night in their pursuit of Champions League football.
But if Frank Lampard’s Everton keep playing like this, they are going down to the Championship.
Antonio Conte’s side followed their FA Cup elimination at Middlesbrough with the biggest win of his brief reign in the second embarrassingly one-sided Premier League match in two days.
And Everton can lay claim to being the poor man’s Manchester United with all the money they have wasted to produce such a shambolic display. Lampard’s
tactically-naive side were exposed by Harry Kane and Co’s ability to spring their uncoordinated press and race clear on Jordan Pickford’s goal.
Away from home in the Premier League - and against top-quality forwards - it is asking for trouble.
And trouble is what Everton got, with two goals from the England captain, one apiece for Heung-Min Son and sub Sergio Reguilon, and Michael Keane putting through his own net again.
The new Everton boss has now lost four out of five league matches to remain just a point and a place above the drop zone.
And while you never know what to expect with Spurs, Everton’s away form is depressingly familiar as they
strive to avoid relegation for the first time since 1951.
They have the worst record away from home with only six points and one win - at Brighton back in August and their next two home games against Wolves and Newcastle have massive significance.
Spurs will no doubt lose again at Old Trafford on
Saturday but they are now within three points of fourthplaced Arsenal with the North London derby – still to be fitted into the calendar after its January cancellation – looking increasingly pivotal.
On a freezing night in Tottenham, Everton had started crisply with Anthony Gordon sharp on the ball.
It did not last. The opener came after 14 minutes when Ben Davies released Ryan Sessegnon down the left and his driven cross was smashed home by Keane at the near post for his second own goal this year.
The England centre-back also netted in this same fixture in July 2020.
Pickford stood no chance with that lethal finish.
But his 28th birthday was about to get even worse. Kane, again dropping deep into a creative role, found Dejan Kulusevski who released Son (left celebrating with Kane) down the middle. Pickford should have kept out his low shot, but failed to do so.
He did save from Son and Doherty before Kane scored his 25th goal of the season.
This time Doherty
threaded the ball through the Everton lines and Kane raced clear to beat his England team-mate.
Not even a VAR check could save Lampard from a third goal – or the merciless taunting of the former Chelsea midfielder by the Spurs support.
It was to get no better for Lampard after the break. Just 43 seconds into the second half Reguilon tapped home Kulusevski’s low cross.
The fifth was even easier, Kane peeling off at the back post to volley home Doherty’s diagonal pass.
It was just like old times for Dele Alli back at Tottenham Stadium as he watched his side losing from the Everton bench before he got generous applause when he made a cameo appearance.