Tottenham Hotspur’s frustrating start to the Premier League campaign dragged on for another match as they were held to a goalless stalemate by an unbeaten Everton side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 0-0 result means the Spurs have now failed to find the back of the net in each of their first four league fixtures, a rarity that has not occurred in the club’s recent history. In fact, more than 400 minutes have elapsed since their last Premier League goal, underscoring a worrying lack of cutting edge in the De Zerbi era.
The encounter followed a similar 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest the previous weekend, and once again the newly‑assembled, high‑priced Tottenham side looked unable to translate possession into clear chances. The home crowd, already restless from the lack of excitement, gave a muted reaction when the only Spurs shot on target – a feeble low effort from Mateus Fernandes in the second half – was met with ironic applause. Overall, Tottenham managed just two attempts on target and registered an expected‑goals (xG) figure of 0.64, highlighting the paucity of genuine scoring opportunities.
Everton, on the other hand, enjoyed a few moments of promise that ultimately saw them claim their first away league victory since February. Former Spurs winger Brennan Johnson produced a fine second‑half chance that narrowly missed the target, while earlier in the game Tottenham keeper Antonín Kinský almost handed a lead to Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall when a loose ball was inadvertently passed to the Toffees forward. The early stages of the match saw Tottenham press aggressively, creating four shots within the opening ten minutes. Jan Paul van Hecke, Everton’s centre‑back, missed a close‑range effort that could have put the visitors ahead.
Yet it was van Hecke’s own fifth‑minute strike that turned out to be the most threatening chance for the home side. After that, Spurs entered a period of inactivity that saw them become the first Tottenham team in two decades to endure a four‑game goalless run. Statistically, the match also marked several firsts for the North London club. It was the inaugural goalless draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Premier League play – the stadium’s 140th league game – and the first time Spurs have been held to a 0‑0 home draw in the competition since September 2017.
Sky Sports analyst Jamie Redknapp was scathing in his post‑match assessment. He noted that despite the club’s £300 million spending spree, the inability to score in six hours of football was "absolutely diabolical".
Redknapp criticised the lack of connection between the players and the supporters, the tactical imbalance caused by forcing left‑back Robertson to operate as a wide left player while Marmoush drifted inside, and the overall midfield shape. He suggested that De Zerbi must find a way to integrate a true number nine – whether that be an in‑form Dominic Solanke, a fit James Maddison, or a healthy Dejan Kulusevski – to restore attacking potency.
De Zerbi himself was seen arguing with substitute Mathys Tel on the pitch after the final whistle. In the subsequent press conference, the Italian manager defended his decision to play Tel as a striker, explaining that the player’s natural position is central and that he should be positioned to receive crosses from the left‑back, rather than being asked to operate on the wing. He praised Tel’s character, insisting that the issue lay elsewhere. Everton manager David Moyes expressed disappointment with his own side, saying he expected more after the club’s recent near‑miss of European qualification.
Moyes acknowledged that Tottenham applied sustained pressure for the first 20 minutes, making it difficult for the Toffees to settle. He admitted that Everton’s own ball retention and attacking play were below par, but he also highlighted the team’s resilience in weathering Spurs’ early onslaught. Key moments of the match included: - 5′ – Jan Paul van Hecke’s close‑range header that narrowly missed the target, the best Tottenham chance of the first half.
- 45+1′ – Antonín Kinský’s first save of the game, palming away a long‑range free‑kick from James Garner. - 47′ – Mateus Fernandes’ weak low shot, which was straight at Jordan Pickford and drew sarcastic cheers from the home fans. - 50′ – Thierno Barry’s back‑post header saved by Kinský. - 66′ – A mis‑controlled pass from Kinský that landed at Dewsbury‑Hall’s feet, only for the striker to shoot directly at the goalkeeper.
- 89′ – Everton goalkeeper Pickford forced a mistake that allowed Lucas Bergvall a chance, which Pickford saved admirably. Sky Sports’ Callum Bishop summed up the predicament succinctly: "You can’t win games if you don’t score goals." He pointed out that despite the creative talent on the pitch, Tottenham lacked a striker capable of converting chances. Bishop emphasized that Dominic Solanke’s fitness is crucial; as the only true number nine in De Zerbi’s squad, his involvement is essential. However, Solanke’s limited touches – just 19 in the match, fewer than the goalkeeper’s – and zero shots underscore the depth of the problem.
The analysis concluded that De Zerbi faces a stark choice: either adjust the system to better serve his forwards or acquire a reliable striker before the January window closes. Until then, Spurs risk prolonging a season marked by barren attacks, frustrated supporters, and a growing gap between expectation and reality.