🔗 Share this article

Micky van de Ven found the net twice as Tottenham prolonged their unbeaten run in away games in the Premier League and handed Everton their initial loss at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees were unbeaten in their last five matches at their recently opened stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, having departed their historic home behind after more than a century at the end of the previous campaign.

But Spurs captain the Dutchman pounced twice from corners in the opening 45 minutes to put their impressive record at risk, and they were failed to turn it around before the midfielder - set up by former Toffees attacker the Brazilian - nodded in a third to put the game to bed.

The Everton defender believed he had equalized the scores five minutes after the defender's first goal, directing a bullet header past the Spurs keeper from an set-piece.

Beto, meanwhile, missed a handful of opportunities, while the Italian goalkeeper made a succession of excellent stops to ensure the London club went five matches on the road without defeat in the Premier League.

But the VAR intervened, instructing the match official to review the score on the pitchside monitor and the referee decided that Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye were in offside positions and had interfered with the Tottenham goalkeeper.

The win elevates the manager's team into third place in the Premier League, five points off north London rivals and table-toppers Arsenal.

The Merseyside club stay in 14th position and are six points clear of the drop zone.

Spurs breakdown: The defender fulfils role at both ends of the field

Following a drab midweek display in the European competition against the French side, where they mustered a mere attempts on target, the manager chose the French striker in attack instead of former Toffees player Richarlison.

The new arrival was unable to make much of an impact before being substituted for the substitute after 60 minutes on the field, but it emerged he proved unnecessary in the final outcome.

Centre-back the Dutchman transformed into an attacking force to be feared.

Spurs' opening strike came from a cleverly executed corner routine, with the midfielder directing the ball back across the face of goal for an unmarked the defender to head home.

And Ven de Ven - stepping up as skipper in Cristian Romero's absence - added his next goal in first-half stoppage time as he rose above Jordan Pickford to head home.

Van de Ven was just as outstanding in defence, combining effectively with his defensive colleague as the pair dealt superbly with the numerous deliveries thrown their way by Everton.

Toffees breakdown: Everton missing finishing touch

Everton's new home had been a fortress, but it seems the freshness may have faded somewhat and fans flocked to the exits after the midfielder's third for Tottenham.

The break in the team's unbeaten home run will not be a major concern for the manager, but their attacking woes are.

The forward and Thierno Barry - the Toffees' pair of established strikers - had netted just a single goal combined before Sunday's outing.

And they were unable to contribute to that poor record on a wet and gloomy night on Merseyside.

The striker's performance was summed up when he chose to overhead kick a clear chance from near the goal, even with having space and time to readjust for a more conventional shot that would have challenged Vicario.

The substitute, too, failed to influence the game after coming on for Beto in the second half.

It wasn't for a lack of chance. The majority of the home side's offensive moves came through the winger and the forward, who tirelessly delivered dangerous crosses into the Tottenham box.

What next for both teams?

Everton: Moyes' men travel to Sunderland in the top flight on Monday, 3 November at 8 PM.

Tottenham: Spurs travel to St James' Park on late October for their fourth-round Carabao Cup match against the Magpies.