Tottenham Hotspur's season‑opening run has now stretched to four league matches without a single goal, a record that has not been seen at the club for more than two decades. The latest chapter unfolded on their home turf, where a goalless draw against an unbeaten Everton side added another point to the table but did little to ease the growing anxiety among the White Hart Lane faithful. The match ended 0‑0, marking the first time in Spurs' history that they have failed to find the net in each of their first four Premier League fixtures. In total, more than 400 minutes have elapsed since the last time a Tottenham player put the ball in the back of the net in a league game, a drought that has left supporters and pundits alike questioning the efficacy of the club's massive summer spending.
After a similar barren draw at Nottingham Forest the previous weekend, Tottenham once again produced a performance that many would describe as toothless. Roberto De Zerbi’s newly assembled, high‑priced squad struggled to create clear-cut chances, and the crowd’s frustration was evident when they booed the team off the pitch at full‑time.
The home side managed just two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes, the first of which was a feeble, low‑driven effort from midfielder Mateus Fernandes in the second half. Even that half‑hearted strike was met with a chorus of ironic cheers from the fans, underscoring the sense of disappointment that permeated the stadium. Statistically, Tottenham’s expected goals (xG) for the match sat at a meagre 0.64, reflecting the lack of quality chances.
Everton, on the other hand, enjoyed a few more promising moments. Former Spurs winger Brennan Johnson produced a dazzling run in the second half that threatened to break the deadlock, while earlier in the game, Spurs goalkeeper Antonín Kinský almost handed a soft opening to Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall after a mis‑controlled back‑pass.
The Toffees, who were seeking their first away league victory since February, weathered an early storm from the home side. Tottenham pressed aggressively in the opening ten minutes, registering four attempts, but the most notable was a close‑range effort by Jan Paul van Hecke that narrowly missed the target.
Van Hecke’s fifth‑minute strike ultimately proved to be the best opportunity for the home team, a reminder of how thin Tottenham’s attacking output has become. This stalemate also set a few unwanted records for the North London club. It was the first goalless draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Premier League competition – the stadium’s 140th league game – and the first time Spurs have been held to a 0‑0 home draw in the top flight since September 2017.
The lack of goals has sparked a chorus of criticism from former players and analysts alike. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp summed up the prevailing sentiment: "After spending £300 million, I didn't think there would be a problem scoring goals. But to not score in six hours of football is absolutely diabolical." He went on to highlight the disconnect between the supporters and the players, noting that the crowd’s brief celebration when Fernandes struck the ball was more a sign of sarcasm than genuine optimism.
Redknapp also questioned the tactical balance of De Zerbi’s side, pointing out that the left‑back position and the left‑wing were mismatched due to the movement of players like Moussa Marmoush, leaving the team lopsided. Redknapp suggested several potential solutions, including finding a way to slot either Mohammed Kudus or a fit James Maddison into the central ten, and integrating the talented but injury‑prone Kristijan Kulašvić (Kulusevski) once he regains full fitness.
He concluded that the quality is present in the squad, but the execution on the pitch remains lacking. Post‑match, De Zerbi was seen in a heated exchange with substitute Mathys Tel on the pitch.
The manager later explained his frustration, stating that Tel, who began his career as a striker, was being used out of position as a winger. De Zerbi emphasized that a striker must stay central and focus on the goal, especially when paired with midfielders like Maddison, Kudus, or Savio Maresca.
While he praised Tel’s character, he admitted that the tactical deployment was not ideal. Everton manager David Moyes also offered his perspective, admitting that he expected more from his side but praised his players for showing resilience under pressure. He noted that Tottenham applied intense pressure for the first 20 minutes, forcing the Toffees to defend deep and struggle to break free. Moyes acknowledged that his team had moments of quality but ultimately fell short of the standard he believes they are capable of.
Key moments of the match included: - 5′ – Jan Paul van Hecke’s close‑range effort, the best chance for Spurs. - 45+1′ – Everton’s James Garner struck from a long‑range free‑kick; Kinský palmed the ball away.
- 47′ – Mateus Fernandes’ weak low shot, directly at Jordan Pickford, eliciting sarcastic cheers. - 50′ – Thierno Barry’s back‑post header saved by Kinský. - 66′ – Kinský mishandled a pass to Dewsbury‑Hall, who then shot straight at the goalkeeper. - 89′ – Pickford saved a close‑range effort from Lucas Bergvall after a turnover.
Analysis from Sky Sports’ Callum Bishop highlighted the core issue: without a reliable goal‑scorer, Tottenham cannot win matches. He pointed out that Dominic Solanke, the only natural number nine on De Zerbi’s books, was largely invisible, registering just 19 touches and no shots on target.
Bishop argued that the lack of a true striker is a glaring weakness, especially given the club’s heavy investment in attacking talent. He warned that unless the squad acquires a proven forward in the January window, or De Zerbi finds a way to get Solanke more involved, Spurs may continue to scrape draws and suffer defeats.
In summary, the 0‑0 stalemate against Everton encapsulated the broader crisis at Tottenham: a squad packed with expensive names but lacking the clinical edge to convert chances into goals. The team must address its striking deficiency, re‑evaluate tactical balance, and restore confidence among a fanbase that has grown increasingly impatient with a season that, so far, has delivered more frustration than triumph.