🔗 Share this article

The Tottenham defender found the net on two occasions as Tottenham extended their unbeaten run in away games in the Premier League and delivered the Toffees their first defeat at their new home.

The Toffees were unbeaten in their last five matches at their new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock, having left Goodison Park behind after 133 years at the conclusion of the previous campaign.

But Tottenham's leader the Dutchman pounced on two occasions from set-pieces in the opening 45 minutes to put their impressive record at risk, and they were unable to turn it around before Pape Matar Sarr - assisted by ex-Everton forward Richarlison - nodded in a third to seal the victory.

Jake O'Brien thought he had equalized the scores a short while after Van de Ven's first goal, glancing a bullet header past the Spurs keeper from an set-piece.

Beto, in the meantime, missed a handful of chances, while the Italian goalkeeper made a succession of fine saves to guarantee Tottenham went five away games unbeaten in the Premier League.

But the VAR intervened, advising Craig Pawson to review the goal on the screen and the referee decided that the winger and the attacker were in an illegal position and had impeded with the Spurs keeper.

This victory moves the manager's team into third place in the division, five points off local foes and leaders Arsenal.

The Merseyside club stay in 14th position and sit six points ahead of the relegation zone.

Tottenham analysis: The defender fulfils duties at both ends of pitch

Following a drab weekday performance in the European competition against Monaco, where they mustered a only attempts on target, the manager chose Randal Kolo Muani in attack instead of former Toffees player Richarlison.

The new arrival was unable to make much of an impact before being replaced for the substitute after an hour on the pitch, but it emerged he proved unnecessary in the end.

Centre-back the Dutchman transformed into an offensive threat to be feared.

Tottenham's opening strike came from a cleverly executed set-piece play, with the midfielder directing the ball back across the six-yard box for an free the defender to head home.

And Ven de Ven - stepping up as skipper in Cristian Romero's absence - added his next goal in first-half stoppage time as he rose above the England keeper to head home.

Van de Ven was equally outstanding in defensive duties, partnering well with Kevin Danso as the duo handled excellently with the numerous deliveries sent their way by the opposition.

Everton analysis: Toffees missing finishing touch

The club's recent stadium had been a happy hunting ground, but it seems the novelty may have faded slightly and fans flocked to the gates after Sarr's final goal for Spurs.

The break in the team's unbeaten home run will not be a major concern for the manager, but their striker situation are.

Beto and Thierno Barry - the Toffees' two established centre-forwards - had netted only a single goal between them before Sunday's match.

And they were unable to add to that poor record on a wet and gloomy night on in Liverpool.

The striker's form was epitomized when he opted to overhead kick a clear chance from near the goal, even with having room and opportunity to reposition for a simpler shot that would have challenged the keeper.

The substitute, too, failed to influence the game after replacing Beto in the 65th minute.

It wasn't for a lack of chance. The majority of Everton's offensive moves came through the winger and the forward, who tirelessly whipped dangerous crosses into the Tottenham box.

Upcoming fixtures for these two sides?

The Toffees: The team travel to Sunderland in the top flight on early November at 20:00 GMT.

Spurs: Spurs travel to Newcastle's ground on late October for their next round Carabao Cup match against Newcastle.