Tottenham’s ascent to fourth place came after their victory over Everton during the weekend. Ange Postecoglou’s squad notched their third consecutive win, with first-half goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min, while Andre Gomes’ late strike served as a mere consolation.
The 2-1 triumph now places Spurs in the Champions League positions, trailing league leaders Arsenal by four points. Following the match, Postecoglou expressed his satisfaction, acknowledging the challenge posed by Everton, a team that had recently showcased strong form in the competition.
“The result is immensely gratifying against a highly challenging opponent in Everton, who have demonstrated impressive form over the past few weeks,” said the Tottenham boss. “Today, their diligent efforts were quite evident, and we managed to gain the upper hand in the first half. Despite our goals, our overall performance displayed promising football. We exuded a significant attacking threat. After securing a 2-0 lead, we somewhat relaxed, allowing them to seize an opportunity to regain momentum. We exhibited resilience and solid defensive work within the box, along with a couple of exceptional saves from Vic, who once again displayed brilliance today.”
Postecoglou concluded, “The match encompassed a variety of elements, shaping a performance that was notably distinct for us. The most satisfying aspect is undoubtedly the three points that we’ve earned.”
However, the victory came with its own challenges. Cristian Romero exited at half-time due to a suspected hamstring injury, while Richarlison was substituted with 30 minutes remaining, dealing with a back concern. Post-match, Postecoglou addressed their situations, stating, “Romero experienced tightness in his hamstring just before half-time, prompting his substitution.”
Regarding Richarlison, the Australian manager remarked, “He’s doing fine. He had been experiencing back discomfort during yesterday’s training. Although not at 100%, he was eager to start today’s match. While it’s gratifying that he scored and contributed significantly, I anticipated that we would eventually need to take him off. However, I don’t anticipate anything severe.”
Romero and Richarlison now join a growing list of sidelined players at Hotspur Way. It remains uncertain whether the pair will be available for the upcoming match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday. Meanwhile, James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ryan Sessegnon, and Alfie Whiteman remain sidelined, echoing the mounting injury challenges faced by the team.
