Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur 4 Everton 0

Tottenham Hotspur produced a stylish performance to thrash Everton 4-0 at Wembley Stadium during a record-breaking game for the club.

Heung-min Son opened the scoring in the first half and equalled a record set by Jermain Defoe of scoring in five consecutive home league games for Spurs.

Not to be outdone, Harry Kane netted a second-half brace with his second goal taking him past Teddy Sheringham in the Premier League – in the process becoming Tottenham’s record goalscorer in the Premier League with 98 strikes.

Christian Eriksen added some gloss to the scoreline late on by finishing off a stunning move to cap a great day for Mauricio Pochettino.

Spurs made eight changes to the team which eventually broke down AFC Wimbledon in the third round of the FA Cup last Sunday.

Hugo Lloris returned in goal while Serge Aurier, Davinson Sanchez and Ben Davies returned with Michel Vorm, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker-Peters on the bench and Juan Foyth not part of the squad.

Further up the pitch, Eric Dier replaced Victor Wanyama, who dropped to the bench and was joined by Moussa Sissoko, Erik Lamela and Fernando Llorente.

Coming in for the aforementioned trio were Eriksen, Dele Alli and Son, who lined up behind Kane.

Everton handed a debut to new signing Cent Tosun and included former Tottenham ace Gylfi Sigurdsson in their starting XI.

On the bench for the Toffees was ex-Spurs favourite Aaron Lennon and he received a warm cheer from the Lilywhites faithful when his name was read out at Wembley.

Pochettino and his players were given a slight boost before kick-off when news came through that Leicester City had held Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.

With Liverpool and Arsenal both in action on Sunday, Tottenham had a great chance to put some pressure on the rest of their top-four rivals.

Spurs started brightly and the atmosphere inside Wembley stadium seemed a little more buoyant than usual.

Chances were at a premium during the opening exchanges and it took a neat piece of skill from Alli to earn Tottenham a good first sight at goal.

The England international got away from Idrissa Gueye with a wonderful flick and the Everton midfielder fouled his opposite number just outside the area.

Eriksen stepped up and drilled the free kick towards goal and Son, unmarked, got a flick to his cross, but could only put it over with 15 played.

A warning sign for Tottenham occurred straight after though, when Jordan Pickford’s goal kick was flicked on by Tosun and Rooney took his shot early, but it went wide.

Six minutes later and the Toffees threatened again and a Sigurdsson’s corner was cleared out to Gueye and his long-range effort was blocked.

Sam Allardyce’s visitors were growing in confidence and from the next corner kick they had the ball in the net.

Another Sigurdsson corner caused Spurs problems and Tosun headed towards goal and Rooney diverted past Lloris, but the former Manchester United captain had just moved into an offside position with 22 minutes played.

It was a let-off for Tottenham and one they were not able to ignore as three minutes later Kane had another effort, which Pickford saved with ease.

Pochettino’s men had stepped it up a gear, however, and it was no surprise in the 26th minute they took the lead.

Eriksen produced a wonderful cross-field pass to Aurier and although his touch was heavy, he had time to fire the ball across goal where Son was on hand to tap home.

The South Korean signalled the number five to the crowd and it was telling because it was the fifth consecutive Premier League home game he had scored in – equalling a record previously held by Jermain Defoe.

Wembley was alive again with the atmosphere rocking inside the national stadium, but Spurs appeared to switch off after the goal.

Sanchez took his eye off the ball in the 28th minute when Lloris passed out to him and in the process conceded a throw in a dangerous area.

Six minutes later and Kane was equally sloppy when he dribbled into touch when an easy pass was on.

Although Tottenham were leading, it had been a frustrating opening 36 minutes for the England forward, which was summed up when Mason Holgate anticipated a pass from Aurier before the Spurs number 10 and Kane fouled the defender moments later.

It was a needless late tackle to make and Everton continued to cause Spurs problems as half time approached.

A neat move by Allardyce’s team saw Tosun get in down the left, but his centre evaded Rooney and came out to full-back Jonjoe Kenny.

Kenny swung the ball in with his right-foot and Sanchez did well to head clear with Rooney in close proximity and the loose ball fell for James McCarthy, but he could only stab his shot out for a throw with 40 on the clock.

Phil Jagielka went into the book on the stroke of the interval for a late tackle on Alli before the half time whistle occurred following one minute of stoppage time.

Tottenham could be happy with their work during the first 45, though Everton had threatened on a couple of occasions and a second goal for the hosts appeared key at the beginning of the second period.

It seemed Pochettino had told his team similar as it didn’t take the hosts long to extend their advantage.

Dier picked out Son on the left and he produced a stunning roulette to spin away from Kenny and embark on a run towards the Everton goal.

The South Korean dribbled past Holgate inside the area and managed to square for Kane to tap in his third goal of 2018 with 47 minutes played.

It was a stunning piece of play from Son and although there was a hint of offside, the goal stood and the Tottenham number seven could celebrate a brilliant assist.

The game was turning into the Son show and in the 52nd minute he almost created a second goal.

Alli was played through by his Spurs team-mate, but he could only fire into the side-netting under pressure from Kenny.

The chances kept on coming for Tottenham as Gueye gave the ball away and Kane brought it forward before firing towards goal, but Pickford saved.

Kane managed to get onto the rebound, but couldn’t keep possession and appeared frustrated not to get a foul.

A touching moment occurred in the 57th minute when Lennon entered the fray in place of Bolasie and entered the pitch to a standing ovation and huge cheers from the home fans.

The same set of supporters were nearly celebrating a third less than 60 seconds later when Kane picked out Son with a stunning cross-field pass.

Son came inside and feinted to shot before creating some more space and then curling an effort against the post.

Everton had survived that moment, but in the 59th minute it was 3-0 and another club record was the result.

Dier was afforded too much time on the right and crossed into the area where Kane made the most of a lapse in concentration from Everton’s defence to tap into the net from close range.

It wasn’t a vintage finish from the Spurs forward as he side-footed the ball inadvertently into the ground, but it still managed to deceive Pickford and find the net.

The goal was Kane’s 98th in the Premier League and that made him Tottenham’s record goalscorer in the league format which started in 1992, going past Teddy Sheringham’s tally of 97.

With Spurs three goals to the good, the Wembley crowd could enjoy themselves like the players on the pitch were.

Tottenham continued to move the ball around with class and Alli, who had again shown he is getting back to his best, won a free kick in a dangerous position in the 70th minute.

Pochettino made his first change with 16 minutes left, bringing on Wanyama in place of the impressive Dier.

Everton had already made all of their substitutions with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Morgan Schneirderlin replacing Tosun and McCarthy.

Rooney went into the book with quarter of an hour remaining for a poor, late tackle on Vertonghen before Tottenham came ever so close to making it 4-0.

Alli was involved yet again as he passed into Son’s path and he forced Pickford into a smart save before Alli latched onto the rebound and fired towards goal, but Everton’s goalkeeper got down well to keep the score down to three.

Son was running riot and tried to claim a second in the 80th minute, but Holgate got back well to block his shot.

Tottenham did manage to score their fourth goal a minute later and what a goal they treated their fans to.

Aurier and Kane produced a neat one-two by the half way line before the right-back passed into Son’s path.

The South Korean found Alli and he majestically back heeled to Eriksen, who drilled in from 16-yards.

It was a superb move and earned applause from Pochettino and he immediately took off Dembele following the goal with Sissoko coming on.

Spurs were still searching for a fifth goal, which would have taken them above top-four rivals Liverpool and into fourth place.

Lamela was the next player to come on, with three minutes left, as Eriksen made way to a round of applause.

Two minutes of stoppage time were added on and they went by without anything to note as Spurs claimed a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

It was another fine result for Pochettino’s men and puts them level on points and with the same goal difference as Liverpool ahead of the Reds clash tomorrow with leaders Manchester City.

Tottenham are next back in action at Southampton on Sunday January 21 where they will look to keep up their assault on the top-four.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier (Wanyama 74), Dembele (Sissoko 82); Eriksen (Lamela 87), Alli, Son; Kane.

Unused substitutes: Vorm, Trippier, Walker-Peters, Llorente.

Everton: Pickford; Kenny, Holgate, Jagielka, Martina; McCarthy (Schneiderlin 72), Gueye; Bolasie (Lennon 57), Rooney, Sigurdsson; Tosun (Calvert-Lewin 62).

Unused substitutes: Robles, Williams, Niasse, Lookman.

Attendance: 76,251.