Spurs confirmed Champions League football for next season after a thrilling 2-2 draw against Everton at the new White Hart Lane. Three goals in six minutes saw both teams come from behind as the points were shared in North London.
Spurs got off to the quicker start of the two sides with a goal after just three minutes; Eric Dier was the quickest to react to some poor Everton defending as he poked it past Jordan Pickford to open the scoring. Everton looked as if they were already in holiday mode though and Spurs looked to be riding high after their midweek efforts in Amsterdam.
Mauricio Potchettino’s side could have been further ahead at half time but squandered chances. Perhaps the Ajax game caused Tottenham to tire in the second half as Everton came out looking the stronger of the two sides and managed to find a way back into the game.
It was Theo Walcott who levelled the scores on the 69th minute with an effort that found the bottom corner. Everton then surprisingly took the lead minutes later as Cenk Tosun bundled the ball over the line in a scrappy sequence of play.
That was not the end of the chaos though as three minutes after Everton took the lead, they lost it. The goal was a moment of quality from Christian Eriksen who scored a delightful free-kick to level the scores.
Neither side could find the winner in the last 15 minutes and the two shared the points meaning Spurs finished fourth whilst Everton replicated their eighth-place finish of last season.
Spurs seal Champions League football
A draw on Sunday meant that Tottenham finished a point ahead of their North London rivals Arsenal and finished in fourth place. Perhaps they will be disappointed as they had the chance to finish 3rd after Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Leicester – the draw left them in fourth though meaning they will likely have to go through the qualifying stages of the Champions League – unless they are victors against Liverpool in Madrid.
Spurs have had a turbulent season as they were very close to the top spots until some torrid form caused them to slip into fourth. However, fans will be delighted that their team are amongst Europe’s elite once more next season.
Despite the turbulence, their season has been fantastic. Without spending a penny, Potchettino has proved why he is one of the most sought after managers in the game. His team have qualified for the Champions League once more, moved to a new stadium and after a difficult qualifying group have managed to reach the Champions League final. This is something that nobody expected which shows just how good a squad they are and how they have developed over the past few seasons.
Midweek efforts see Spurs flagging
The world saw Tottenham produce possibly the greatest Champions League comeback against Ajax on Wednesday and they will no doubt have been riding high on that result – but did their efforts midweek effect Sunday’s result?
Spurs did seem to switch off in the second half as Everton bagged two goals in three minutes in a game that Spurs looked to be in control of. Potchettino’s side did have the capabilities to grab an equaliser and they could have finished in third if they did not slip up momentarily in the second half – but Pochettino and fans would likely have taken that finish given how nervy the last few weeks were.
Everton repeat their eight place finish
Marco Silva’s first year in charge has seen Everton finish in eighth place and just miss out on Europa League football. The Toffees finished eighth last season under Sam Allardyce and on paper, it could be said they have not gone forward. However, under Marco Silva Everton have definitely moved forward.
They have kept eight clean sheets in their last ten games and seem like a club with an identity. They play much nicer possession-based football and it showed on Sunday at times against a good Spurs side. Games against the bigger sides is where they will need to prove themselves next season but the development of an identity is definitely what was needed over the last few seasons as a number of managers have come and gone and that is what makes Everton’s season a much better one than last year.
Man of the Match – Christian Eriksen
A constant presence in the midfield this season who had another solid game and got his side back into the game with a moment of brilliance from a dead ball opportunity. His quality was what earned his side a point and confirmed their top-four finish.
