Tottenham Hotspur's struggles continued as they suffered their seventh defeat in 10 Premier League games, falling 3-2 to Everton at Goodison Park. The loss has intensified pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou, with the London club now sitting precariously in 15th place.
The match highlighted why Spurs have earned the unflattering nickname "Dr Tottenham" - a reference to their tendency to provide relief for struggling teams. Everton, who had failed to score in nine of their previous 11 Premier League games, found their shooting boots against Postecoglou's side. Dominic Calvert-Lewin broke his 1,288-minute Premier League goal drought after just 13 minutes with a clinical finish past goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Everton's transformation under returning manager David Moyes was remarkable as they dominated the first half, recording 12 shots with six on target - a stark contrast to their previous offensive struggles this season. The hosts raced to a 3-0 lead before halftime, though late goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison made the scoreline appear more respectable than Spurs deserved.
The away supporters made their frustrations clear, directing anger at chairman Daniel Levy and sarcastically cheering when their team managed to string passes together. "You're nothing special, we lose every week," they chanted, reflecting the dark humor of their current predicament.
Postecoglou's switch to a three-man defense proved unsuccessful, though he defended the tactical change as necessary given his limited personnel options. The Australian manager is dealing with several key injuries, including Dominic Solanke (knee), Brennan Johnson (calf), and Yves Bissouma, but these absences cannot fully explain such poor performances.
The contrast with Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola is particularly telling. Despite missing eight players and having just 39 combined appearances on their bench compared to Newcastle's 979, Bournemouth secured an impressive 4-1 victory and extended their unbeaten run to 11 games.
Postecoglou remains defiant, stating, "My belief doesn't waver. We are in a pretty extreme situation with injuries. If you look at the situation we're in, it will eventually dissipate. I certainly hope and believe it will." He added, "We'll give ourselves the opportunity to get consistency in performance and results. I certainly haven't lost belief or determination to turn it around."
With upcoming fixtures in the Europa League against Hoffenheim and a Premier League clash with Leicester City, Tottenham must find their own cure quickly. While sacking Postecoglou might seem like an easy solution, finding a quality replacement mid-season presents its own challenges. The pressure continues to mount as Spurs sit just four points ahead of Everton, who have a game in hand.
