Everton were able to see off the challenge of Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park in a rare attacking display this season.
The Toffees have scored just 15 goals in 20 games in this competition, but they added three goals in the first half as Spurs struggled. Ange Postecoglou's men scored late on but were second best for most of the contest.
Not for the first time in recent months; The visitors were chaotic in defence, and Everton capitalized well. Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring after 13 minutes and Iliman Ndiaye scored an individual goal on the half-hour mark.
An Archie Gray own goal near the end of the first half effectively ended the game as a contest, but goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison pulled Everton to four points clear of the relegation zone.
The result will pile up the pressure on Postecoglou and his team, who sit 15th, just one point behind Everton.
After David Moyes' second came in Everton's home defeat to Aston Villa, this was a much better performance from the hosts who deserved the three points.
DCL stars amazing goals.
Calvert-Lewin was awful but showed some lovely feet to give Everton the lead.
Played in Idrissa Gueye, Calvert-Lewin got inside Gray and crossed again before firing past Antonin Kinsky.
Spurs quickly leveled but James Tarkowski made a brilliant save to deny Son Heung-min before the South Korean's Jordan Pickford saved well.
Calvert-Lewin's early goal, his first in 17 Premier League games, was a poor touch when he was cleared to leave Kinsky out and the young Czech made a brilliant save to push away Gueye's shot a minute later. the post
After 30 minutes, Everton scored a second goal. Ndiaye picked up the ball in his own half, tricked Radu Dragusin and sent a powerful shot into the net before leaping towards the goal.
“It was a magical moment.” 🪄
What a goal for Iliman Ndiaye. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Q9byZ92x1d
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19 2025
Unfortunately, Gray won 3-0.
Spurs were rocking and it was no surprise that Everton scored again before the break.
Jesper Lindstrom crossed from the right and Tarkowski headed back towards goal, hitting Clavert-Lewin only for Gray to volley into his own net.
Postecoglou introduced ex-Everton striker Richarlison at half-time but initially did little to change the complexion of the game and Calvert Lewin almost scored the fourth goal from Linstrom's cross.
Tottenham Hotspur took the lead with 13 minutes to equalize. Pickford came out to close down James Maddison, who picked out Kulusevski, and the Swedish winger produced a lovely clip over the covering defenders.
Tottenham pulled one back through a fine Dejan Kulusevski strike. 💥 pic.twitter.com/UMw0hVNOCi
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19 2025
Things got interesting when Richarlison turned home Mikey Moore's brilliant cross at the far post.
But Tottenham Hotspur did not see that they still lacked an equaliser.