Everton Beat Spurs As Moyes' Second Tenure Gets Going

David Moyes' second tenure as Everton boss got up and running in style with a memorable 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park.

First-half goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye and an Archie Gray own goal did the damage, as the Blues recorded their first home win over Spurs in the Premier League since Moyes was last manager - more than 12 years ago.

Dejan Kulusevski's deft chip had Spurs on the scoresheet with 13 minutes remaining before Richarlison netted deep into second-half stoppage time - but Everton clung on for a deserved three points.

The Toffees looked rejuvenated in a new wing-back system deployed by Moyes, with Jesper Lindstrøm a livewire throughout and Calvert-Lewin - who became the Toffees' third-highest Premier League scorer by netting his 57th strike for the Club in the competition - a pair who will no doubt feel the benefit from a welcome shot of confidence after a rousing team display.

Perhaps fittingly, as the Club celebrated 'Retro Day' as part of the farewell to Goodison Park, the afternoon even saw a return for an old-favourite chant, as 'He's got red hair but we don't care' reverberated around the stadium in tribute to Moyes.

FIRST HALF

Jake O'Brien was handed a first-ever Premier League start and Lindstrøm was also recalled to the starting XI as Moyes shuffled his pack - and his shape - from the slender midweek defeat to Aston Villa, with Lindstrøm and Vitalii Mykolenko operating as wing-backs.

As the hosts made a positive start, it was Lindstrøm who forced January recruit Antonin Kinsky into action with less than seven minutes on the clock, wrong-footing Pape Sarr with an intelligent first touch before forcing the Spurs goalkeeper into a save at full stretch.

Everton wouldn't have to wait long for their opener, though, and it came through a moment of genuine quality on 13 minutes.

It began with Lindstrøm who read and intercepted a loose Pape Sarr pass in midfield before finding Idrissa Gana Gueye, he then played the ball to Calvert-Lewin in a congested penalty area. Everton's No.9 jinked one way then the other to lose Gray before sliding a low shot past Kinsky.

He became the first Everton player to score a Premier League goal under Moyes since Steven Naismith netted 11 years and eight months ago for the Toffees against Chelsea. 

Ange Postecoglou's side looked to have recovered some composure after the early blow and could have found themselves back on level terms with two presentable opportunities in the following 10 minutes.

They both came from balls over the top of Everton's defence and twice captain Son Heung-Min was denied - first by an excellent last-ditch sliding tackle from James Tarkowski and minutes later by Jordan Pickford holding on to a low shot after a neat cut-back from Dejan Kulusevski.

The Toffees responded with a pair of big chances of their own. Calvert-Lewin timed his run to perfection to latch on to Jarrad Branthwaite's diagonal pass, only for his second touch to let him down as he bore down on goal which allowed Kinsky to scoop up possession.

Kinsky was Spurs' saviour again seconds later, clawing Orel Mangala's shot on to the post and behind for a corner.

But that would only prove to delay Everton's second of the afternoon.

It came in style, too. After a confident spell of possession between Everton's back three, the ball was shifted into midfield via Gana, who then slipped in Ndiaye on the halfway line.

There was still plenty of work to do as Ndiaye drove at Spurs' defence. Radu Dragusin was the last obstacle in Everton No.10's way and he was swiftly dispatched with a drop of the shoulder before Ndiaye fired a fine left-footed finish into the roof of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Everton had a third before the interval. After Lindstrøm's corner was recycled back to him, he dug out a deep cross that was met by Tarkowski at the far post, helped on by Calvert-Lewin and helped into his own goal by Gray.

This was the first time that Everton had led by three goals at home at half-time in the Premier League since February 2017 against Bournemouth.

SECOND HALF

Spurs began the second half by showing their obvious intention to get back into the game, with defender Dragusin making way for former Goodison favourite Richarlison.

But Everton retained an impressive appetite to get forward and press Spurs high up the pitch.

Lindstrøm's effort from a free-kick was headed wide by Calvert-Lewin before Ndiaye's low cross was cleared at the vital moment as the Toffees looked to pick up where they left off.

That control continued as Everton twice went close on the hour-mark - but Mykolenko could only blaze over the crossbar after intelligent play from Ndiaye down the left before Calvert-Lewin skewed his effort wide after a neat turn inside the penalty area.

Lindstrøm was afforded a standing ovation from Goodison as he made way for Ashley Young with 20 minutes remaining.

It wasn't until the 73rd minute that Spurs crafted their first chance of note. Djed Spence's cut-back was perfectly intercepted by Branthwaite to take it off Richarlison before James Maddison thundered high over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area on the rebound.

Spurs did get on the scoresheet with 13 minutes remaining, Kulusevski delicately lofting the ball over six Everton players and into the Park End net after threatening work from Maddison.

Everton's determined spirit was epitomised with four minutes remaining when substitute Ashley Young charged down a lost cause and, against all odds, won a corner from Gray - much to the delight of the Gwladys Street.

But Richarlison would net for Spurs deep into added time, turning in at the far post after a short corner routine from the visitors, which provided a particularly nervy ending.

Thankfully, Everton stood strong to record an important victory which sees them put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.

Next up for the Blues is a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday 25 January (3pm GMT).