Tottenham 0-0 Everton: Premier League Match Report and Player Ratings

90 minutes of slop.

Everton maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a goalless draw against Tottenham Hotspur in North London, in a game where chances, quality and entertainment were all in painfully short supply.

Neither side could find a breakthrough across a largely forgettable 90 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although David Moyes' side will perhaps feel they had the better opportunities to take all three points.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Brennan Johnson were both guilty of wasting excellent second-half chances, while Thierno Barry also failed to make the most of a headed opportunity as Everton's lack of quality in the final third ultimately cost them.

At the other end, Tottenham offered remarkably little as Jarrad Branthwaite led an excellent defensive display from the visitors, helping Jordan Pickford to his 100th Premier League clean sheet and ensuring Spurs' extraordinary wait for their first Premier League goal of the season goes on.

It's clear what the Spurs fans want ⚽️⤵️ pic.twitter.com/xAdNkqzwjA

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 12, 2026

It won't be remembered as a classic, but Everton remain unbeaten and return from one of their least-favourite away grounds with another point on the board.

Everton Look to Take Advantage of Struggling Spurs

I had my worst fears heading into this game.

Tottenham hadn't won in the Premier League this season, hadn't even scored a goal and had spent hundreds of millions seemingly without much reward. They opened their campaign with defeats against Brentford and Newcastle before at least getting their first point on the board with a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest. In other words, they were exactly the type of struggling team that has historically made me terrified of seeing Everton appear next on their fixture list.

Everton, on the other hand, arrived in North London unbeaten. An opening-day victory over Crystal Palace had been followed by successive late equalisers to salvage a point against both Bournemouth and Manchester United. Moyes' side therefore had an opportunity not only to maintain that unbeaten start, but to take advantage of a Spurs team desperately searching for some confidence.

Everton had lost on their previous five Premier League visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while their only victory at the ground came all the way back in September 2020. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the winner that afternoon, although because of COVID restrictions, precisely zero Everton supporters were actually there to enjoy it. Considering Everton's habit of providing struggling sides with exactly what they need, you could probably understand my concern.

There was only one change from the Toffees' side that drew with Manchester United, with new fan favourite Ainsley Maitland-Niles starting for the first time as Merlin Röhl missed out through injury. Brennan Johnson started against his former club, while Jack Grealish had to wait for his first start in the royal blue this season.

A First Half That Certainly Happened

If you're looking for a detailed breakdown of scintillating attacking football from the opening 45 minutes, you've unfortunately come to the wrong match report. Neither side looked particularly capable of breaking the deadlock, with Everton's defensive structure proving far more impressive than anything they produced when actually tasked with putting the ball into Tottenham's net.

Jarrad Branthwaite was once again at the heart of everything good about the Toffees defensively, while James Tarkowski alongside him ensured Jordan Pickford had relatively little to worry about. Spurs may have entered the game desperately searching for their first league goal of the campaign, but Everton certainly weren't in the mood to hand it to them.

At the opposite end, however, Everton struggled to turn promising positions into anything meaningful. James Garner came closest to providing some excitement with a free-kick that forced Antonin Kinsky into action, but genuine opportunities remained at a premium as the two sides went into half-time goalless.

Second Half Struggles

For all the criticism I can throw at Everton's attacking performance, the frustrating thing is that they still had opportunities to win the game. Perhaps the most frustrating fell to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and it was exactly the type of situation where, despite how highly I rate him elsewhere on the pitch, I simply don't fancy him.

After Kinsky gifted possession straight to the midfielder in a dangerous area, Dewsbury-Hall suddenly found himself with the type of opportunity you dream of being handed away from home. Once again, however, he failed to take advantage of a golden chance that you just knew was there for the taking. Dewsbury-Hall can influence games in so many different ways, and he has already shown his quality since arriving at Everton, but put him in one of those situations where you need somebody to be ruthless in front of goal and my confidence immediately disappears.

Brennan Johnson also had an excellent opportunity to score against his former club and somehow managed to blaze his effort over the bar. For a player brought into this Everton side to provide considerably more threat in the final third, it simply wasn't good enough. Johnson has struggled to convince me and performances like this aren't exactly helping his case. The chance was there. The goal was there. Everton desperately needed somebody to inject some quality into a game completely devoid of it.

Thierno Barry also had an opportunity with his head as Everton increasingly looked like the side more likely to stumble their way into a winner, but once again there was no finishing touch. That ultimately summed up Everton's afternoon. The defensive platform was there; Tottenham were there for the taking and the chances eventually arrived.

The quality didn't.

Spurs did at least provide one final reminder that Everton could still somehow lose the game in the closing stages. Lucas Bergvall's late effort finally forced Jordan Pickford into meaningful action, with the England number one producing a strong low save to preserve Everton's clean sheet. After spending the majority of the afternoon watching two attacks seemingly compete over who could create the least, conceding a late winner would have been the most Everton way imaginable to finish it.

Two Points Dropped or One Point Gained?

Normally, watching Everton pass up opportunities like those would leave me firmly in the "two points dropped" camp. Part of me still is. Tottenham were poor. Really poor.

As dire as Everton were going forward, somehow Spurs were arguably even worse. There was something strangely refreshing about watching another Premier League side struggle so badly and being able to sit there thinking: "God, thank God they're not us." Considering the enormous amount of money invested into that squad, Everton should leave North London frustrated that they didn't take greater advantage of a side so clearly lacking confidence.

But context matters. Everton's record at this stadium is dreadful, Moyes' side kept another clean sheet, and they have come through an away game against Tottenham without defeat. The fact I can walk away thinking Everton probably should have won is arguably encouraging in itself.

The biggest positive was undoubtedly at the back. Pickford was dependable when required, including that important late stop from Bergvall, the full-backs did their jobs and Tarkowski produced another solid performance, but Branthwaite was comfortably my man of the match.

As for the actual football, I won't be getting those 90 minutes of my life back. I'll have to spend the rest of the weekend watching some genuinely good football just to remind myself what it looks like.

Man of the Match – Jarrad Branthwaite

In a game almost completely devoid of quality, Jarrad Branthwaite was comfortably the best player on the pitch.

You've voted Jarrad Branthwaite as your #TOTEVE Player of the Match. 👏 https://t.co/uOUDL9W7ka pic.twitter.com/GeqduBXYfV

— Everton (@Everton) September 12, 2026

Tottenham may have offered very little going forward, but part of that was because whenever they did threaten Everton's back line, Branthwaite seemed to be there waiting for them. He was composed in possession, dominant defensively and barely put a foot wrong across the entire 90 minutes.

There wasn't much competition from those playing further up the pitch, but that shouldn't take anything away from another excellent display from Everton's new number four. A Rolls-Royce performance, and if he keeps this up, a certain Mr Tuchel may be giving the lad a call.

Bad Day at the Office – Brennan Johnson

I'm still waiting to be convinced by Brennan Johnson in an Everton shirt, and this certainly wasn't the performance that changed my mind. Against his former club, Johnson was handed one of Everton's best opportunities to win the game and really should have scored. Instead, with the chance there to potentially secure all three points, his effort went sailing over the bar.

"What a chance this was!"

Brennan Johnson had the chance to put Everton in front against his former club 😯 pic.twitter.com/fUi7t6hX7t

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 12, 2026

That miss wasn't the only problem. Everton desperately needed somebody in their attacking line to take responsibility and inject some quality into proceedings, but Johnson struggled to consistently influence the game. There is obviously a player in there. His numbers at Tottenham proved that. But Everton need to start seeing considerably more of him, because opportunities like the one he wasted here simply have to be taken.

Everton Player Ratings

Jordan Pickford – 7

Didn't have anywhere near as much to do as you might expect away at Tottenham, which probably says more about Spurs than anything else. Produced an important late save from Bergvall when finally called into meaningful action and earned another clean sheet — his 100th in the Premier League. Nice going, Jordan.

Welcome to the century club, Jordan Pickford! 🧤💯 pic.twitter.com/0vmOPvKUXR

— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) September 12, 2026

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 7

A solid defensive display and played his part in ensuring Tottenham created very little down Everton's side. Not a game that required much going forward, but defensively he did his job.

James Tarkowski – 7

Exactly the sort of game Tarkowski enjoys. No nonsense, dealt with what came his way and helped Everton remain organised throughout. Not a fan of these long balls though, Tarky lad, they barely ever come off!

Jarrad Branthwaite – 8 (MOTM)

If there was one Everton player who didn't deserve to be associated with the lack of quality on display, it was Branthwaite. Calm, commanding and seemingly first to everything Tottenham attempted to throw into Everton's box. Comfortably the best player on the pitch.

Vitalii Mykolenko – 8

Again, this man continues to impress me week in, week out. I can't wait for him to eventually go back to his usual self and we all criticise him, but you can tell how much better he is defensively when he's got Branthwaite next to him too.

"This group is so good"

Vitalii Mykolenko is loving life at Everton 💙 pic.twitter.com/OhfB8PfKlL

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 12, 2026

Harrison Armstrong – 6

Worked hard and competed well enough in midfield without really taking control of proceedings. Not his finest performance, but far from Everton's biggest problem.

James Garner – 6

Produced one of Everton's few threatening moments of the first half with his free-kick. Solid enough without ever really imposing himself on a dreadful game. Still felt like Hackney should have started, but hey ho.

Brennan Johnson – 5

Should have scored. Simple as that. Presented with a brilliant opportunity against his former club and sent it over the bar. Everton needed some quality in the final third and once again Johnson didn't provide enough of it.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 5

I really like Dewsbury-Hall as a footballer, but put him in a situation where he has time to think about finishing a big chance and I immediately become nervous. Tottenham practically gifted him the opportunity and the finish simply wasn't good enough. Considering the quality he has shown for the Blues, he has had much better games.

Tyrique George – 5

Struggled to make much of an impact going forward and was another member of an Everton attack that never really got going. A frustrating afternoon.

Thierno Barry – 5

Had an opportunity to win it with his head but couldn't take it. Worked without reward, although Everton ultimately need considerably more threat from their number nine than they got here. Shame he's got no one as a backup to him.

Substitutes: Jack Grealish, Hayden Hackney, Jake O'Brien – N/A

None were given enough time to warrant a rating or make enough of an impact to change the game.

What's Next?

Both sides now turn their attention to the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Tottenham face a difficult trip to Anfield on Tuesday night as they take on Liverpool, before returning to Premier League action against Aston Villa next Saturday.

Everton have an extra day's recovery before welcoming Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Wednesday night, with David Moyes' side looking to continue their cup run after an emphatic 4-0 victory over Preston North End in the previous round.