Tottenham Hotspur's frustrating start to the Premier League campaign persisted as they were held to a goalless stalemate on home turf by an unbeaten Everton side. The match ended 0-0, extending the North London club's inability to find the back of the net for yet another fixture.
In fact, this is the first occasion in which Spurs have failed to score in any of their opening four league games of a season, and it marks more than 400 minutes of Premier League football without a single goal. The previous weekend saw a similar pattern when Tottenham were held to a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, and the pattern repeated itself against Roberto De Zerbi’s newly‑assembled, high‑priced Everton eleven.
The Toffees’ supporters even gave the visitors a chorus of boos as the final whistle blew, reflecting the disappointment that hung over the stadium. Spurs’ supporters, already irate, witnessed a night in which the home side managed only two shots on target. The first of those attempts came from Mateus Fernandes in the second half – a feeble, low‑driven effort that was met with a sarcastic roar from the crowd, who seemed to be cheering the very act of shooting rather than the prospect of a goal.
Overall, Tottenham generated a meagre expected‑goals (xG) figure of 0.64, underscoring how thin their attacking output was. Everton, on the other hand, enjoyed moments that suggested they could secure their first away league victory since February. Former Spurs winger Brennan Johnson produced a brilliant chance in the second half that narrowly missed the target, while earlier in the game Spurs goalkeeper Antonín Kinský almost handed an opening goal to Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall after a loose ball reached him in a dangerous position. The Toffees weathered an early storm from the home side, who fired four attempts within the opening ten minutes.
Jan Paul van Hecke missed a prime close‑range opportunity, and his fifth‑minute effort turned out to be Tottenham’s best chance of the entire match. That moment also saw De Zerbi’s men become the first Spurs team in two decades to endure a four‑game goalless run. Statistically, the fixture was noteworthy for several reasons. It was the inaugural goalless draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Premier League competition – the stadium’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 collective frustration: “After spending £300 million, I didn’t expect a goal‑scoring problem. Yet to go six hours of football without a single goal is simply diabolical. The first 20 minutes gave me hope, but when Fernandes struck and the crowd cheered the miss, it was clear something was wrong.
The connection between the fans and the players is missing, and I don’t know when the first win will come. The balance in the team isn’t right – Robertson was forced into a left‑back role while Marmoush drifted inside, leaving the side lopsided. De Zerbi must sort the midfield, perhaps by introducing Kudus or a fit Maddison, and figure out how to use Kulusevski when he’s healthy. There are more questions than answers, and the quality on the pitch just wasn’t there despite the talent on the roster.” Following the final whistle, De Zerbi was seen having a brief exchange with substitute Mathys Tel on the pitch.
In his post‑match press conference, the Italian manager defended the young forward, explaining, “I coached him on the field. He is a striker by nature, and a striker must stay central, not drift to the wing. When we play with Maddison, Kudus and Savio, he needs to occupy the central striker’s zone and look for the goal or for a cross from Robertson.
He started his career as a centre‑forward, even though we have used him on the wing. I like Mathys as a player and as a person; there is no problem there.” Everton’s manager David Moyes also shared his thoughts: “I expected more from my side, but I reminded the players of what we’re fighting for. We haven’t had a great record here, and just a few months ago we missed out on European qualification.
Tottenham applied pressure for the first 20 minutes and forced us onto the back foot. We created a few chances, but overall we didn’t play well when we had possession. We know where we are lacking and what we need to improve.
Some games will require us to adapt just to stay in the competition. It wasn’t our plan; Tottenham forced us into a defensive stance, but I think we showed resilience.” Key moments of the match included: - 5′ – Jan Paul van Hecke narrowly missed a close‑range effort that could have broken the deadlock. - 45+1′ – Everton’s James Garner struck a long‑range free‑kick that forced a reflex save from Antonín Kinský, marking the first shot on target of the game. - Half‑time – Tottenham had not registered a single shot on target, extending a Premier League run of 26 games without a first‑half strike.
- 47′ – Mateus Fernandes produced a weak, low‑driven shot that went straight to Jordan Pickford, prompting ironic cheers from the Spurs crowd. - 50′ – Thierno Barry’s back‑post header was comfortably saved by Kinský.
- 66′ – Kinský saved a second‑half chance when a mis‑controlled pass from Dewsbury‑Hall landed at his feet. - 89′ – Everton goalkeeper Pickford made a crucial save after Lucas Bergvall’s attempt, preserving the clean sheet. Sky Sports’ Callum Bishop provided a broader analysis, stating, “It doesn’t take a genius to see where Tottenham’s biggest problem lies – they can’t win games if they don’t score.
After 400 minutes without a goal, the frustration is understandable. The squad is full of creative talent, yet the player tasked with finishing – the number nine – has been invisible. Dominic Solanke, the only true striker on the roster, has been under‑utilised.
When fit, he should be a starter, but he managed just 19 touches and zero shots in this match, fewer than the goalkeeper. If your main goal‑scorer can’t even get a touch, it’s no wonder the team is floundering in the final third.
“The responsibility now falls on De Zerbi to determine whether his teammates are not supplying Solanke with enough service, or whether Solanke himself cannot deliver the goals that Harry Kane once did. Replacing Kane is a monumental task, and three years after his departure, Solanke remains the only high‑priced signing intended to fill that void. The lack of a reliable striker has become a glaring issue, and with the January transfer window still months away, De Zerbi must find a way to involve Solanke more effectively or adapt his tactics to compensate for the shortage of firepower."