More than £300m spent. Three Premier League games played. No wins and no goals.
It has not been the start Tottenham envisaged after heavily backing Roberto De Zerbi this summer, and Everton have the chance to make things even more uncomfortable on Saturday evening.
Spurs opened with a 3-0 defeat at Brentford before losing 2-0 at home to Newcastle. A goalless draw at Nottingham Forest brought their first point, but not their first goal – and they failed to register a shot on target.
Everton arrive unbeaten
Tottenham have now failed to score in their opening three league games for the first time since 1974. That is some return on a summer in which more than £300m has been spent rebuilding De Zerbi’s squad. Reuters has already suggested the Italian could come under pressure if results do not improve. Everton, meanwhile, head to north London unbeaten.
David Moyes’ side have taken five points from their opening three Premier League games, beating Crystal Palace 2-0 before drawing 1-1 at Bournemouth and 2-2 with Manchester United.
There is a little extra edge to Saturday’s game after what happened in May. Tottenham beat Everton 1-0 on the final day of last season to secure their Premier League survival, having been dragged into a relegation fight that went all the way to the final afternoon. De Zerbi has since been given serious backing to make sure nothing similar happens again.
Three league games is far too early to judge whether that money has been well spent. But if Everton can extend Tottenham’s wait for a first win – and perhaps a first goal – the questions will inevitably become a little louder.
Then again, ever heard the phrase, along come Everton?