Tottenham 1-0 Everton: Spurs edge to victory over Everton in game lacking in quality

Michael Keane's first-half own goal gave Spurs a much-needed three points that sees them up to eighth in the Premier League and back in the Europa League race.

But tensions were high as Lloris and Son were involved in a heated exchange which involved pushing and shoving, and they had to be separated by team-mates.

Jose Mourinho, who celebrates a 200th Premier League win as manager, may well view the clash, where Lloris was angry at Son's perceived lack of effort, as a positive and the pair were later seen hugging at the start of the second half and again at full-time.

It was far from an entertaining display from Mourinho's men, but with their Champions League hopes seemingly over they are at least in with a shout of a place in Europe's second-tier competition next season.

That is something that now might be beyond the Toffees after this defeat, which leaves them four points behind their hosts and Carlo Ancelotti's men never did enough to take anything out of the game, which was low on attacking quality throughout.

It was a forgettable opening 20 minutes, with Spurs dominating possession but pedestrian in their approach.

They did not look like scoring through conventional methods so it was no surprise that a huge chunk of luck was involved in them taking a 24th-minute lead.

Harry Kane's blocked shot found its way to Giovani Lo Celso, whose shot-on-the-turn was heading well wide until Keane's deflection took it past Jordan Pickford.

They could not build on that platform, though, and continued to labour in attack, with Pickford's spilling of a corner the closest they came to scoring again.

Their lead was almost wiped out in first-half injury time as a misplaced pass allowed Everton to break and Richarlison, fit again after an ankle injury, fizzed a shot just wide.

Spurs skipper Lloris was not happy with Son for his part in the build-up to that chance and let him know at half-time.

The France goalkeeper ran over to Son to chastise him and the pair had to be separated by team-mates and they pushed and shoved each other.

If Son was at fault he nearly made up for it early in the second half as he had a good chance to double Spurs' lead.

Toby Alderweireld pinged a superb ball over the top of the defence and Son latched onto it but his low shot was saved by Pickford.

The South Korean was in the thick of the action and had two more chances in quick succession.

First he curled an effort just wide from the edge of the area and then, after a Lucas Moura burst, stung the palms of Pickford, who made a good low save.

That was the extent of Spurs' attacking threat as Everton came on strong in search of an equaliser.

They did not really test Lloris into any meaningful action, though, as they looked as limp as their opponents in attack.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin flicked an effort straight at the Spurs keeper, who also made a routine save from Moise Kean at the death.

Jose Mourinho in focus

Jose the naughty boy

Mourinho pledged to "break the rules" and hug his friend and Everton counterpart Carlo Ancelotti before kick-off at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. And the controversial Portuguese stuck to his word by embracing the Toffees manager before the game got under way in north London. Mourinho clearly remains not only unfazed by the threat of coronavirus but also disinterested in acting as any kind of exemplar through his behaviour.

The calm one

Mourinho cut a completely composed figure throughout this encounter, his demeanour hardly ever straying any further than a toss-up between disinterested and coolly detached. A sardonic, dismissive wave of the hand to the fourth official was all he could muster even when contesting the five minutes of time added in the first half.

Mourinho not even up for a fight

The woeful football on offer perhaps left Mourinho so glum that he even lost interest in an on-pitch spat between two of his key players. Hugo Lloris charged at Son Heung-min, berating the South Korea forward after the half-time whistle. The rest of the Spurs players kept the two team-mates separated and ushered everyone off the field. Mourinho meanwhile was almost 30 yards away, sauntering off the pitch - either with no care in the world, or caught up in his own thoughts. Lloris and Son were caught on camera in a mini hug while in the tunnel awaiting the second half. So any issue must have been sorted at the break.

Opta facts: Tottenham 1-0 Everton

• Tottenham boss José Mourinho has become the fifth manager to reach 200 Premier League victories, with only Sir Alex Ferguson (322) doing so in fewer games than the Portuguese (326).
• Tottenham are unbeaten in 15 Premier League games against Everton (W8 D7), their longest run without defeat against an opponent in the competition.
• Everton have lost exactly half of their Premier League games in London (78/156), with only Newcastle (79) losing more in the capital than the Toffees.
• Tottenham have kept a clean sheet in two of their last three Premier League games – as many as they had in their previous 14 in the competition.
• Everton committed 18 fouls in this game – only against Aston Villa in August (18) have they conceded as many in a Premier League game this season.
• Michael Keane’s own goal was the third that Everton have scored in the Premier League this season – no side has netted more. Meanwhile, it was the fourth own goal that Tottenham have benefitted from this term, also a joint league-high.

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