Full Breakdown
Tottenham-Everton 0-0 Draw Extends Spurs’ Goal Drought
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 12, 2026, Tottenham Hotspur hosted Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both sides created chances but failed to score, leaving the match dead-locked at 0-0. The result kept Tottenham winless and goalless in their opening four Premier League games, while Everton preserved their unbeaten run.
Background & Context
Tottenham entered the season after a £300 million-plus overhaul of the squad, aiming to lift the club from the 17th-place finish of the previous campaign. New manager Roberto De Zerbi inherited a side that narrowly avoided relegation. Everton, under David Moyes, arrived with a comparatively thin squad but an unbeaten record in recent weeks.
Data & Statistics
- Possession: Tottenham 62 %.
- Shots: Tottenham 37 (10 on target); Everton 12 (11 on target).
- Expected Goals (xG): Reports vary – 0.73 xG vs 1.26 xG or 0.57 xG vs 1.12 xG.
- Goal-free minutes: Reported at 360 or 403 minutes, excluding stoppage time.
- Key chances: Mateus Fernandes’ early-second-half strike met sarcastic applause; Jan Paul van Hecke’s half-volley hit the far post; Antonín Kinský’s cross was headed onto the bar by Thierno Barry; a late Lucas Bergvall effort was saved by Jordan Pickford.
Official Statements & Responses
Roberto De Zerbi called the performance “realistic, not positive, not negative,” citing post-World Cup fatigue and injuries that have limited cohesion. He stressed extending the first 30 minutes of strong play into the full 90 and improving finishing in the final 25 metres.
David Moyes noted Everton felt Tottenham had more shots on target but expressed disappointment with his own side’s ball retention and turnover rate. He recalled Everton’s historical difficulty scoring at Tottenham’s stadium and praised the defensive effort that kept the clean sheet.
Criticism & Opposition
Former Spurs player Jamie O’Hara, speaking on talkSPORT, criticised five players—Savio, Omar Marmoush, Dominic Solanke, Lucas Bergvall and Sandro Tonali—arguing the club’s £350 million investment has not produced any goals. He highlighted the “shocking” nature of a team that has failed to score in four league matches.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Goal-free minutes: NBC Sports cites 360 minutes; the Independent cites 403 minutes. Both exclude stoppage time.
- Expected goals: The Independent gives Tottenham 0.73 xG vs Everton 1.26 xG; NBC Sports lists Tottenham 0.57 xG vs Everton 1.12 xG.
- Injury updates: De Zerbi confirmed new signings—including Mykhailo Mudryk, Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie—remain unavailable, with no timeline for return.
What’s Next
Tottenham’s next competitive fixture is the Carabao Cup third round against Liverpool on Tuesday. The club hopes to translate the possession dominance shown against Everton into a decisive result and break the league-wide goal drought that has persisted through the first four matches. Everton will look to extend their unbeaten streak in upcoming league engagements.