A record-breaking brace from Harry Kane, bookended by goals from Heung-min Son and Christian Eriksen, meant Sam Allardyce’s first visit to Wembley Stadium since his sacking from the England job was about as enjoyable as his short tenure in the Three Lions hot seat.
With Chelsea dropping points at home to Leicester, and Jurgen Klopp’s fourth-placed side not playing unbeaten Manchester City until Sunday, Spurs had the chance to put the pressure on those above them in the top four and they took it with both hands.
Mauricio Pochettino’s started brightly with Mousa Dembele driving from the midfield, jinking left and right past blue shirts at every opportunity, but could not find a way through Allardyce’s disciplined back line.
Having held firm through the opening stages, the visitors began to grow into the game. Debutant Cenk Tosun, having scored 14 goals already at Besiktas this season, looked lively with a surprisingly attacking trio of Wayne Rooney, Yannick Bolasie and former Spurs man Gylfi Sigurdsson named behind him.
Rooney, in particular, enjoys a goal against Tottenham - he has 11 of them in all competitions - and he had the ball in the net here at Wembley, only to be denied when assistant Lee Betts ruled his header out for offside. The former Manchester United man jogged back wagging his finger at the linesman, while replays showed the decision was correct.
The close shave sparked some much-needed life into Spurs’ play. Pochettino’s side broke quickly from the restart and were ahead within minutes. Having faced a disciplined defence for the early exchanges, it took one remarkable ball from Eriksen to unlock the Toffees.
The Dane’s diagonal found an onrushing Serge Aurier, in acres of space with Cuco Martina out of sight. The Frenchman got in behind the visiting defence, almost unchallenged, to cut back for Son, who could not miss to score in a fifth consecutive home League game.
Everton came out for the second half with a much more proactive approach. From the restart they were looking to press and frustrate their hosts. That approach which lasted just two minutes, though.
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With the Toffees pressing high Son was afforded a chance on the break. His first touch, a wonderful spin to take the charging Jonjoe Kenny out of the picture, left the visitors exposed with just three at the back. The South Korean continued his charge and, after a few deft stepovers, squared for Kane to tap home.
Spurs’ top scorer had been on the fringes of proceedings before the break, but such is his prowess it takes just a moment for that to change. As with most of his goals at the moment, Saturday’s brought about another landmark, as the 24-year-old moved level in the rankings with Teddy Sherringham as the club’s all time top scorer in the Premier League, with 97.
When Kane has a record to break, though, there is often no stopping him. As Allardyce looked for a way back in, introducing Aaron Lennon - a favourite in these parts - for Bolasie to a standing ovation from the home support, the chances kept coming for Spurs.
As Eric Dier swung a perfect ball across the stretched Everton defence towards Kane, who scored his 100th club goal at Goodison Park earlier this season, the outcome was inevitable. It may have taken a little longer to go in, as his scuffed effort took a couple of bounces before nestling in Jordan Pickford’s goal, but the 98th goal was celebrated with chants of ‘one-season wonder’ from the fans under the arch.
With the hosts out of sight, they all wanted to get in on the act. Both Son and Kane went close again, Dele Alli as well, but it was Eriksen who cropped up to add the fourth.
Son, so impressive once again in London, showed masterful trickery on the edge of the box before allowing Alli to flick on to the unmarked Eriksen. With the ball at his feet and time on his hands, the playmaker finished cooly to put Spurs level not only on points with Liverpool, but goal difference too.
If Tottenham are to break back into the top half of the Premier League, their home form will be vital. Three points against Everton means they are now 11 League games unbeaten at the national stadium, leaving talk of a Wembley hoodoo a distant memory.
While that still doesn’t compare to the form shown in the final season at White Hart Lane, it’s quite the achievement given the just how bigger problem it looked to be early in the campaign.
Pochettino and his players will feel more comfortable than ever at their temporary home following Saturday’s win.
Next up, though, they are on the road. A visit to Southampton is not something to unsettle this current crop. Pochettino has won on every return to his former club, and will be confident as he heads back to an old stomping ground currently in disarray.