Tottenham Hotspur's frustrating start to the Premier League campaign continued at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the visitors were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against an unbeaten Everton side. The match added another chapter to a growing narrative of scarcity in front of goal for the north London club, marking the first occasion in which Spurs have failed to find the net in any of their opening four league fixtures. In total, more than 400 minutes have now elapsed since the last Premier League goal was recorded by a Tottenham player. The goalless stalemate followed a similar dead‑rubber result at Nottingham Forest the previous weekend, leaving Roberto De Zerbi’s freshly assembled, high‑priced squad looking even more out of sync than expected.
The home crowd, already on edge after the earlier disappointment, expressed its displeasure with a chorus of boos as the final whistle blew, a clear sign that patience is wearing thin. Spurs managed only two shots that tested the target, the first being a feeble low effort from midfielder Mateus Fernandes in the second half. The attempt was met with a mixture of irony and derision from the supporters, who could not help but laugh at the lack of threat.
The expected‑goals (xG) metric for Tottenham stood at a meagre 0.64, underscoring how few real chances the team created over 90 minutes. Everton, on the other hand, enjoyed a few moments of promise that could have secured their first away league win since February. Former Spurs winger Brennan Johnson produced a dazzling run in the second half that culminated in a high‑quality chance, but his effort was ultimately denied by the defence.
Earlier, Tottenham goalkeeper Antonín Kinský almost handed the Toffees an opening goal when a mis‑controlled ball slipped toward Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, who failed to capitalize. The early phases of the game saw the Toffees weather a brief spell of pressure from the home side. Tottenham unleashed four attempts within the opening ten minutes, with Jan Paul van Hecke squandering a prime close‑range opportunity. Van Hecke’s fifth‑minute strike turned out to be the most threatening chance for the hosts, a reminder of how thin the attacking output has been.
In fact, De Zerbi’s side became the first Tottenham team in two decades to endure a four‑game goalless run. Statistically, the fixture also broke a few records.
It was the inaugural 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 did not mince words after the match: "After spending £300 million, I didn’t think there would be a problem scoring goals. Yet to go six hours of football without a single goal is absolutely diabolical. For the first 20 minutes I thought this was what I wanted to see, but when Fernandes struck and the crowd cheered, it was clear we were far from it.
The connection between the fans and the players is missing, and I’m not sure when the first win will arrive. The balance of the side is off – Robertson was forced into a left‑back role while Marmoush drifted inside, leaving the team lopsided.
De Zerbi must find a way to get a proper number nine like Kudus or a fit Maddison into the ten‑man midfield. Kulusevski’s role is still unclear, but when he’s fit he needs to be integrated. There are more questions than answers; quality is there, but it’s not being expressed on the pitch." De Zerbi himself was involved in a heated exchange with substitute Mathys Tel at full‑time.
The manager later explained his frustration in the post‑match press conference, noting that Tel’s positional shift from striker to winger had disrupted his natural instincts. He said, "He started his career as a striker; now he’s playing on the wing, but the striker needs to stay central, look for the goal, or make runs for Robertson’s crosses.
I love Mathys as a person, but we need to use him correctly." Everton manager David Moyes also offered his perspective, admitting that his side could have done more: "I wanted more from the team, but I reminded them of why we’re here. We haven’t had a great record at this ground, and a few months ago we missed out on Europe.
Tottenham pressed us hard for the first 20 minutes, and we struggled to break free. We created a few chances, but our overall play was lacking. We know where we’re weak and what we must improve.
Some games may force us into a defensive approach just to survive, but I think we showed resilience today." 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 unleashed a long‑range free‑kick that was palmed away by Kinský, marking the first shot on target of the game. - 47′ : Mateus Fernandes produced a weak low drive that was saved by Jordan Pickford, prompting sarcastic cheers from the Tottenham supporters. - 66′ : Kinský saved a back‑post header from Thierno Barry, then inadvertently passed the ball straight to Dewsbury‑Hall, who struck it back at the goalkeeper.
- 89′ : Pickford made a reflex save after Lucas Bergvall’s shot slipped through his hands. Sky Sports’ Callum Bishop summed up the predicament succinctly: "It doesn’t take a genius to see Tottenham’s biggest problem – they can’t score. With over 400 minutes without a goal, the creative talent on the pitch is wasted if the focal striker remains invisible. Dominic Solanke’s fitness is crucial; he’s the only genuine number nine De Zerbi has at his disposal.
Yet Solanke managed just 19 touches and no shots, less involvement than the goalkeeper. Whether the issue lies with his teammates not feeding him or his own lack of form, the answer will determine if Spurs can break this barren spell before the January transfer window." In summary, the match reinforced the narrative that Tottenham’s substantial investment has yet to translate into tangible results on the scoresheet.
With the season still in its early stages, the pressure on De Zerbi to find a solution – whether through tactical tweaks, a change of personnel, or a psychological lift – is mounting. The fans, the board, and the players all share a common desire: to see the first goal of the campaign and, ultimately, the first victory that can restore confidence in a side that appears to have all the pieces but is still missing the final puzzle piece that turns chances into goals.