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Tottenham's impressive heading prowess under Thomas Frank sent the home side plummeting down to reality at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Tottenham handed the Merseyside club's initial loss at their new home courtesy of three headed goals, a double from the excellent Micky van de Ven, to climb to the top three in the top flight and maintain their dominant performances on the road.

Dead-Ball Dominance Seals Win

A clear gap at the home ground stands in stark contrast to the ruthless efficiency of the London club away from home. Van de Ven scored from a pair of set-pieces before substitute Pape Matar Sarr banished all hopes of an comeback with another near-post nod in the 89th minute. Given the glaring absence of a prolific forward in David Moyes’ squad, the chance of an fightback was unlikely despite the probings of Iliman Ndiaye, James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish. That makes 13 points from a possible 15 for Tottenham on their travels this season.

Match Key Moments

The match was defined by set-pieces and the defender's domineering presence at each end of the field. Everton matched Tottenham for attacking intent but had no solution to the quality of the away team's set-piece delivery or their skipper’s aerial strength. Jeers that met the interval were aimed squarely at the match official, though.

Grealish almost picked up where he stopped previously at Hill Dickinson Stadium by putting his team ahead from close range. The superb Iliman Ndiaye scorched past Djed Spence to create a chance for the striker but, after the hapless forward failed to connect, Grealish arrived at the far post and saw a shot on target blocked on the line by Pedro Porro. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall blazed the rebound over the bar.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Xavi Simons both troubled the Everton defence as an open, flowing game let the respective midfields to impress. But it was a centre-back who stole the show. From a the winger's corner swept loftedly to the far post, Bentancur guided the ball into the mixer with his upper body for Van de Ven to head home from a yard out.

It was the first goal Everton have conceded from a set piece this term and Spurs’ first attempt on target. They then conceded a second from a corner in added time when the away side's accuracy from set-plays hurt Everton once more. Pedro Porro was the provider, this time from the left with a excellent, dangerous corner that cried out for a finish. Van de Ven provided it once the curling cross flew over James Tarkowski and before Jordan Pickford’s fists could connect. The defender’s first-half double must have come from a combined distance of very close range.

Debatable Call and Final Goal

Spurs’ second arrived during an extended period of time added on mostly for the decision to disallow a powerful nod by the defender moments after the first goal. The Everton defender believed he'd scored from another fine corner, delivered by Dewsbury-Hall, and a headed effort that gave Guglielmo Vicario no chance in the Tottenham net. Everton celebrations were diluted when the video assistant referee instructed Pawson to inspect the pitch-side monitor.

The joy turned to dismay when the referee ruled that two attackers were both in an offside position and interfering with Vicario. The pair were obviously in an offside position when the defender made contact but the extent to which they affected the shot-stopper was highly debatable. The official's on-field explanation was inaudible amid the boos that overwhelmed him.

Everton reacted positively to the blows, especially after the restart. The forward, who missed an inviting cross along the six-yard box from Ndiaye in the first half, almost atoned with an bicycle kick from the Senegal international’s cross. Vicario produced an superb stop to deny the No 9. Spurs’ dedication to a shut-out was shown by the midfielder throwing himself in the way of the midfielder's shot in the latter stages. Richarlison could have extended the away team's lead when a lobbed pass beat Tarkowski and left him one-on-one, but the England keeper spread himself well to stop the ex-Toffee.

He was heavily involved in Tottenham's third goal, though, cushioning a header from another accurate Porro centre into the danger area for Sarr to nod past Pickford.