Tottenham Hotspur remains without a victory or a goal in their opening four Premier League matches under manager Roberto De Zerbi, following a goalless draw against Everton at their home ground. The stalemate on Saturday marked a concerning start for the club, who have invested heavily this summer yet continue to struggle in front of goal.
Despite controlling much of the game and displaying comfortable possession, Tottenham failed to convert chances, a recurring issue that has left De Zerbi’s side unable to find the back of the net for the first time in the club’s history at such an early stage of the league. The team’s inability to finish was notably highlighted by missed opportunities from Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke. Fernandes, in particular, drew criticism for taking several touches to control the ball in a promising position, exemplifying the broader problem of composure in the final third.
De Zerbi acknowledged the psychological barrier his players face, describing them as “blocked” but expressed confidence that once this is overcome, the team has the quality to score and win games. He also pointed to physical conditioning as a factor, noting that the side faded after a strong opening 30 minutes and must improve endurance to sustain performance throughout matches.
The Italian coach made four changes from the team that drew with Nottingham Forest, partly due to injuries to full-backs Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie. Their absences led to Andy Robertson taking a starting role at left-back, where he impressed, while Archie Gray struggled on the right flank. Further alterations included the introduction of Fernandes and Dominic Solanke, with Omar Marmoush moving from a central striking position to the left wing to accommodate Solanke’s first start.
Everton, under David Moyes, approached the game with fewer personnel changes, handing a start to Ainsley Maitland-Niles while keeping Jack Grealish on the bench. The visitors were largely on the back foot in the opening stages, relying on goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to deny Tottenham, but their defensive resilience, combined with Tottenham’s profligacy, preserved the clean sheet.
Throughout the match, moments of individual quality from Tottenham’s Robertson and Fernandes were evident, although the latter’s tendency to overcomplicate finishing moves limited the threat. The second half saw a shift in momentum as Everton grew more confident, exploiting Tottenham’s declining fitness to create chances of their own that were ultimately thwarted by the Spurs defense and goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
De Zerbi responded with a triple substitution in an attempt to inject fresh attacking impetus, but the team’s overall sluggishness hampered any sustained pressure. The draw leaves Tottenham rooted near the bottom of the table and raises pressing questions over the effectiveness of the club’s significant summer spending, including the acquisition of Sandro Tonali, who has yet to make a notable impact.
With early results casting doubt on Spurs’ ambitions, the challenge for De Zerbi will be to find the right balance in personnel and revitalise his squad’s finishing ability if they are to reverse their fortunes and climb the league standings.