EPL: Tottenham Go Fourth, West Ham Leave Everton In Relegation Danger
Tottenham powered into fourth place in the Premier League with a 5-1 rout of Newcastle, while West Ham’s 2-1 victory pushed Everton deeper into relegation trouble on Sunday.
Newcastle struck first through Fabian Schar, but Ben Davies equalised before the break in north London.
Matt Doherty, Son Heung-min, Emerson Royal and Steven Bergwijn netted after half-time as Tottenham climbed above bitter rivals Arsenal on goal difference.
Arsenal, who have two games in hand on Tottenham, can regain fourth place if they avoid defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday.
Regardless of that result, Tottenham are firmly in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League, despite Conte’s claim that it would be a miracle to finish in the top four.
Newcastle snatched the lead against the run of play in the 39th minute when Schar’s free-kick from the edge of the area caught Hugo Lloris unsighted as it evaded the Tottenham keeper’s weak attempted save.
But Tottenham were level four minutes later as Son’s teasing cross was glanced home by Davies from six yards for his first Premier League goal since 2017.
Harry Kane was the provider when Tottenham moved ahead in the 48th minute, the England captain whipping over a fine cross that Doherty stooped to head in from close range.
Needing another goal to overtake Arsenal, Conte’s men struck again six minutes later as Kane’s pass picked out Dejan Kulusevski and his cross was slotted in by Son for his 15th goal this season.
Emerson bagged his first Tottenham goal with a close-range finish from Doherty’s cross in the 63rd minute before Bergwijn came off the bench to drill home with seven minutes left.
In turmoil when Conte arrived in November to replace the sacked Nuno Espirito Santo, Tottenham have renewed hope of an uplifting end to the season.
At the London Stadium, David Moyes’ side moved up to sixth place thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s second-half winner on the forward’s return from a month out with a foot injury.
Aaron Cresswell had put West Ham ahead before Mason Holgate equalised soon after the interval.
Everton were effectively out of the contest when Michael Keane was sent off midway through the second half.
Everton’s fifth defeat in their last six league games leaves them languishing just three points above the relegation zone.
Frank Lampard’s team have two games in hand on third-bottom Watford, but their proud record of playing in the top-flight every season since 1954-55 remains under serious threat.
Lampard publicly questioned his players’ character after their FA Cup quarter-final thrashing at Crystal Palace.
They were more committed in their first outing since then, but there was no improvement in the worst away record in England’s four professional divisions this term.
A trip to second-bottom Burnley on Wednesday looms as a vital clash in Everton’s fight for survival.
“The reality is that we are in that kind of moment where everything is going against us, decisions, moments in games, red cards,” Lampard said.
“I can’t fault the players, their character. The performance was really positive and we have 10 games to perform like that again.”
Beaten in two of their previous three league matches, West Ham are just three points behind Tottenham and Arsenal.
West Ham took the lead in the 32nd minute when Cresswell curled a superb free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards.
Holgate grabbed the equaliser in the 53rd minute with a strike that deflected in off Pablo Fornals’ out-stretched boot after West Ham failed to clear a corner.
West Ham were back in front just six minutes later as Alex Iwobi carelessly surrendered possession.
Michail Antonio’s shot was saved by Jordan Pickford but it rebounded straight to Bowen and he scored with a clinical finish.
In the 65th minute, Keane was dismissed after a crunching foul on Antonio triggered his second booking.
AFP
