Everton 3-2 Tottenham: Player ratings as first-half implosion costs Spurs

Everton eased their relegation worries with a narrow 3-2 win over an error-strewn Tottenham Hotspur, piling more pressure on Ange Postecoglou in the process.

The Toffees hadn't beaten Spurs at Goodison Park since 2012 when injury-time goals from Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic sealed a memorable comeback win for David Moyes.

Moyes' return to the Everton dugout hadn't gone to plan in midweek against Aston Villa, but there was a completely different feeling on Merseyside once Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring with a smart low finish following good work from Idrissa Gueye.

Calvert-Lewin had gone 16 games without a goal, yet he displayed tremendous confidence to turn Archie Gray and Ben Davies inside out before wrong-footing goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.

Tottenham, missing striker Dominic Solanke after he picked up a knee injury in training, should have levelled through Son Heung-min ten minutes later but his tame effort from Dejan Kulusevski's cutback was smothered by Jordan Pickford. Spurs' captain was made to pay for his profligacy soon after as Everton ruthlessly exploited more schoolboy defending from the visitors.

Iliman Ndiaye spun in behind Gray and after Radu Dragusin failed to engage the 24-year-old, he sauntered into the penalty area with a bit of trickery before firing a shot past Kinsky into the roof of the net.

Orel Mangala had been denied by the post prior to Ndiaye's goal but Everton weren't to be denied a third before half-time as the unfortunate Gray, drafted into a back three alongside the hapless Dragusin and Ben Davies, deflected in Calvert-Lewin's flick across the six-yard box.

Spurs introduced Richarlison for Dragusin at the break - the latter had taken a nasty blow to the head at the conclusion of the first half - but James Maddison's high and wide effort with just over 15 minutes remaining was their first effort of any sort for 40 minutes.

Spurs, perhaps recognising how ordinary their performance had been, did find a way onto the scoresheet moments later through Kulusevski - the Swede's exquisite chip over a wall of Everton players a moment of real quality.

Everton, who had been an attacking threat throughout, retreated into their shell as Moyes made defensive substitutions, and former hero Richarlison set up a grandstand finish when he converted a Mikey Moore cross from point-blank range.

Everton held on, though, securing a huge win to build a four-point advantage over Ipswich Town ahead of their clash with Manchester City at Portman Road.

Everton player ratings (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Asmir Begovic (GK), Joao Virginia (GK), Harrison Armstrong, Jack Harrison, Beto, Martin Sherif.

Tottenham player ratings (3-4-2-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Brandon Austin (GK), Malachi Hardy, Callum Olusesi, Min-Hyeok Yang, Sergio Reguilon, Damola Ajayi, Will Lankshear.

Player of the match - Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton)

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