Tottenham: Four Key Matches That Defined Their Season

4. November 3, 2019, Son Heung-min gets a red card and Spurs drop points to Everton

Pochettino’s club did not start the Premier League season well. They only accumulated 11 points in their first 10 matches of the season as they struggled for consistency. For example, a 2-1 victory against Southampton was followed by a 3-0 drubbing by Brighton.

For a team expected to challenge for a Champions League slot, Tottenham sat in 11th position before they headed to Goodison Park. Everton also had a difficult start to their campaign as they lost six of their first 10 matches and entered the game against Spurs mired in 16th place in the table.

On many levels, the match was ugly.

The first half was devoid of any significant scoring opportunities. Everton’s expected goals at the half-time whistle were 0.19, while Spurs had an xG of 0.03. Dele Alli put the away side on the board in the 62nd minute as the defense continued to repel Everton’s offensive chances.

The Toffees’ André Gomes suffered a gruesome ankle injury after a clumsy tackle by Son in the 81st minute. The injury was so disturbing to the players and fans nearby that many were visibly upset. Son was inconsolable on the pitch seeing the result of what had occurred.

He received a red card for the incident. The football internet broke with the debate whether he had injured Gomes on purpose, whether he deserved a red card or how many games he should be banned.

Cenk Tosun tied the match for Everton in the last moments of stoppage time, giving his club the draw in a match Spurs should have won and desperately needed to win. The loss of this match and Son’s red card suspension were among the last paper cuts of a thousand that led to the dramatic change to come.