Tottenham Hotspur's bleak start to the Premier League campaign stretched another match without a goal, as the London side were held to a 0-0 stalemate by an unbeaten Everton side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The goalless draw marked the first occasion in the club's history that Spurs have failed to find the net in any of their opening four league fixtures, and it pushed the interval since their last Premier League goal beyond the 400‑minute mark. The match followed a similar pattern to the previous weekend's 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest, offering little in the way of excitement or attacking flair from Roberto De Zerbi's newly assembled, high‑priced squad.
The home fans, already frustrated by the lack of cutting edge, expressed their displeasure with a chorus of boos as the final whistle blew, signalling yet another point earned without any tangible contribution on the scoresheet. Tottenham managed just two shots on target over the 90 minutes.
The first came in the second half when midfielder Mateus Fernandes unleashed a feeble low effort that was met with a sarcastic roar of approval from the crowd – a reaction that underscored the growing disconnect between the supporters and the players. The expected‑goals (xG) metric for the home side sat at a meagre 0.64, highlighting the paucity of quality chances created throughout the game.
Everton, on the other hand, enjoyed several more promising moments and ultimately secured their first away league victory since February. Former Spurs winger Brennan Johnson produced a superb chance in the second half that forced the Tottenham defence into a scramble, while earlier in the match Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinský almost gifted an opening goal to Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall after a mis‑controlled back‑pass. The Toffees weathered an early storm from the hosts; Tottenham unleashed four attempts in the opening ten minutes, with Jan Paul van Hecke squandering a close‑range opportunity that could have broken the deadlock. Van Hecke's effort in the fifth minute turned out to be the most threatening chance for Spurs, and it underscored the fact that De Zerbi's side has now endured a four‑game goalless run – a streak not seen at the club for two decades.
Statistically, this was the first goalless draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Premier League competition (the venue's 140th league match) and the first time Spurs have been held to a 0‑0 home draw in the top flight since September 2017. Sky Sports analyst Jamie Redknapp summed up the frustration: "After spending £300m, I didn't think there would be a problem scoring goals. But to not score in six hours of football is absolutely diabolical. For the first 20 minutes I thought this was what I wanted to see, then Fernandes' shot got the whole crowd to celebrate – it was not great.
The connection with the fans and the players is not there. I don't know when they will get their first win. It might go on longer, but I still see some positives.
It cannot stay this way with what is at their disposal. The balance in defence and midfield is off, and the team needs a proper striker in the ten." De Zerbi was seen arguing with substitute Mathys Tel on the pitch after full‑time.
In his post‑match press conference, the Italian coach explained his concerns about the young forward's positioning: "I coached him on the pitch. He's a striker; a striker cannot play with his shoulder to the goal.
If we line up with Maddison, Kudus and Savio, he must stay central and look for the cross from Robertson. He started his career as a striker, now he's being used as a winger, but I love him as a player – that is not the problem." Everton manager David Moyes also offered his perspective: "I wanted more from my side, but I told them we had to come here and show a bit more. Tottenham were good for the first 20 minutes, putting us under pressure. We struggled to get out of that and created a few chances, but we didn't play well enough when we had the ball.
We know where we are short and what we need to improve. Some games we might have to play this way just to get through. It wasn't the plan; we were forced into it by Tottenham. I think we showed resilience." Key moments of the match included: - 5': Jan Paul van Hecke narrowly missed a close‑range header from an Andy Robertson free‑kick.
- 45+1': Everton's James Garner struck a long‑range free‑kick that forced Kinský into a reflex palm save. - 47': Mateus Fernandes' weak low shot was straight at Jordan Pickford, prompting ironic cheers from the Spurs supporters.
- 50': Thierno Barry's back‑post header was saved by Kinský. - 66': Kinský saved a shot from Dewsbury‑Hall after a defensive error.
- 89': Everton keeper Pickford saved a last‑minute effort from Lucas Bergvall. Sky Sports' Callum Bishop provided a broader analysis: "Tottenham's biggest problem is obvious – they can't score. After 400 minutes without a goal, they have yet to win a league game this season. They possess a plethora of creative talent, yet the player who should be converting chances remains invisible.
Dominic Solanke, the only true number nine available, was barely involved – 19 touches, fewer than the goalkeeper, and no shots on target. If the striker cannot find the net, the team will continue to flounder in the final third. De Zerbi must decide whether the issue lies with his midfield's service or Solanke's ability to adapt to the role left vacant by Harry Kane." The lack of a reliable striker has become a glaring deficiency for Spurs.
Since Kane's departure to Germany three years ago, the club has invested heavily in replacements, yet none have replicated his goal‑scoring consistency. Solanke's limited impact against Everton underscores the urgency of finding a solution, whether through tactical adjustments, increased playing time for the English forward, or a January transfer window signing.
In summary, Tottenham's goalless home draw against Everton extended a worrying trend of offensive impotence. The team must address its striking options, restore the link between the squad and its passionate fan base, and convert the creative spark they occasionally display into tangible goals. Without a breakthrough in the attacking third, the Spurs risk slipping further down the table as the season progresses.