Premier League

TOTTENHAM 0
EVERTON 0

TOTTENHAM manager Roberto De Zerbi is facing an unpleasant reality after his toothless squad set a new, unwanted club record.

His team have not scored a goal for four games in a row – the first time Spurs have suffered such a drought at the start of a new season.

Speaking after Tottenham’s goalless home draw against Everton this afternoon (Saturday), De Zerbi told reporters his players were not yet match-fit.

With four games played, no goals scored and two points on the board, De Zerbi added today’s improved performance was a step in the right direction, but his team were suffering from pre-season disruptions.

“We started this season late for many, many reasons,” said De Zerbi. “Many players were at the World Cup and had many problems, [including] injuries.”

De Zerbi reflected that his starting lineup had two late additions to the squad in key figures Savio and Omar Marmoush. “They started to work with this group two Thursdays ago,” he said. “We are not in the right physical condition yet.”

Spurs set out from the traps with speed, wit and determination, but Everton weathered the storm, and ultimately the Tottenham whirlwind blew itself out.

De Zerbi admitted: “We played well in the first 30 minutes, we didn’t score, and maybe we lost a little confidence. We’re going to win many games if we can extend that 30 into 60, then 70, 80, 90.

“Four games without a goal is tough to accept. We are sorry for the fans, but the fans were behind the players today. The players are working in the right way.”

Tottenham, who had beaten Everton five times in a row, sensed today was the day to end the goal drought that has dogged the opening games.

They started off at a lick. Savio and Marmoush benefitted from having Dominic Solanke as a target man, thriving on the space he created as he kept the centre-backs busy.

Pedro Porro was missing. The danger he usually offers going forward was replaced by Archie Gray’s industry. Gray epitomised the effort – called on once again to fill in at right-back, he was solid defensively and managed to make bursts into dangerous areas.

His run on 27 minutes, dashing between the Everton lines and controlling a through ball neatly, showed the purpose he was bringing down the right.

For all of Tottenham’s blood and thunder in the opening 30, it degenerated into thud and blunder.

While there was no faulting the effort, it needed clearer heads. Everton dealt with it. Jordan Pickford would only have one genuine save to make throughout: a long-range Lucas Bergvall effort late on it.

Everton offered little going forward themselves. On 74, Brennan Johnson was found central with time and space, but the former Spur side-footed his effort over the bar.

De Zerbi had shuffled his pack, bringing in Mateus Fernandes for Conor Gallagher and dropping Mathys Tel to bring in Solanke.

If he can get Destiny Udogie fit, and welcome Porro back, this is probably his strongest XI, with perhaps James Maddison, who came on late in the game, battling Fernandes for the creative midfielder role.

It felt today like we got a glimpse of what De Zerbi’s Tottenham will look like this season. There were encouraging signs, but first, will somebody, anybody, somehow, anyhow… score the Spurs fans a goal?

Tottenham: Kinsky, Gray (Adarabioyo, 84), van Hecke, van de Ven, Robertson, Tonali, Bentancur (Bergvall, 63), Fernandes (Kudus, 63), Savio, Marmoush (Maddison, 76), Solanke (Tel, 61)
Substitutes not used: Dubravka, Senesi, Gallagher, Davies

Everton: Pickford, Maitland-Niles (O’Brien, 75), Tarkowski, Braithwaite, Mykolenko, Garner, Johnson (Hackney, 75), Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall, George (Grealish, 64), Barry
Substitutes not used: Travers, King, Keane, Dibling, Alvarez, Graham