🔗 Share this article

The Tottenham defender found the net on two occasions as Tottenham prolonged their winning streak in away games in the top division and handed the Toffees their initial loss at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees were unbeaten in their five previous fixtures at their new ground at the dockside location, having departed Goodison Park behind after 133 years at the conclusion of the previous campaign.

But Tottenham's leader Van de Ven pounced twice from corners in the first half to place their impressive record at jeopardy, and they were unable to turn it around before Pape Matar Sarr - set up by ex-Everton forward Richarlison - nodded in a third to put the game to bed.

Jake O'Brien thought he had equalized the tally a short while after the defender's opener, directing a powerful header past Guglielmo Vicario from an Everton corner.

Beto, meanwhile, missed a handful of chances, while the Italian goalkeeper made a succession of fine stops to guarantee Tottenham went five matches on the road unbeaten in the Premier League.

But the video assistant referee stepped in, advising the match official to check the score on the screen and the official ruled that Jack Grealish and the attacker were in an illegal position and had impeded with the Spurs keeper.

The win moves the manager's team into third place in the Premier League, a handful of points off local foes and table-toppers the Gunners.

The Merseyside club remain in 14th position and are half a dozen points ahead of the relegation zone.

Tottenham analysis: Van de Ven fulfils duties at each end of pitch

After a drab weekday performance in the European competition against the French side, where they mustered a only attempts on goal, the manager opted for the French striker in attack instead of ex-Everton forward Richarlison.

The summer signing was unable to influence the game before being replaced for the substitute after 60 minutes on the pitch, but it emerged he proved unnecessary in the end.

Defender the Dutchman transformed into an attacking force to be reckoned with.

Tottenham's opening strike came from a well-worked set-piece play, with the midfielder directing the ball back across the six-yard box for an unmarked Van de Ven to head home.

And the captain - filling in as skipper in Cristian Romero's absence - notched his second in added time as he rose above the England keeper to head home.

Van de Ven was equally impressive in defence, combining well with his defensive colleague as the pair handled superbly with the 34 crosses thrown their way by the opposition.

Toffees breakdown: Toffees lacking finishing touch

The club's new home had been a happy hunting ground, but it seems the novelty may have worn off slightly and fans headed to the gates after the midfielder's third for Tottenham.

The break in the team's winning streak at home will not be a major worry for the manager, but their striker situation are.

The forward and the other striker - the Everton's pair of established strikers - had scored just one league goal combined before the weekend's match.

And they were failed to add to that poor tally on a wet and gloomy evening on Merseyside.

Beto's form was summed up when he opted to overhead kick a clear chance from near the goal, even with having room and time to readjust for a simpler attempt that would have challenged the keeper.

The substitute, as well, was unable to make an impact after coming on for Beto in the 65th minute.

It was not for a shortage of chance. The majority of Everton's attacks came through Grealish and Ndiaye, who relentlessly whipped threatening crosses into the Tottenham box.

Upcoming fixtures for both teams?

The Toffees: Moyes' men travel to Sunderland in the Premier League on Monday, 3 November at 8 PM.

Tottenham: Spurs go to Newcastle's ground on Wednesday, 29 October for their fourth-round Carabao Cup match against Newcastle.