Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a solid 2-0 victory over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from Micky van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr sealed all three points for Spurs, giving them a much-needed boost after recent inconsistent performances. However, despite the result, several players struggled to make an impact, leaving fans and pundits questioning certain selections.
Among those under scrutiny was Xavi Simons. The Dutch attacking midfielder, signed from RB Leipzig for £52 million, arrived with big expectations after a brilliant spell in Germany.
During his time with Leipzig, Simons produced a total of 21 goals and 21 assists across two seasons impressive numbers that made Tottenham confident he could fill the creative gap left by James Maddison.
Unfortunately, his early performances in the Premier League have been underwhelming, and the match against Everton highlighted those concerns.
According to Sofascore, Simons had no shots, no key passes, no completed dribbles, and failed to create any big chances during the game.
It was a performance that summed up his slow adaptation to the English top flight quiet, ineffective, and lacking influence in the final third. He received a 4/10 rating from Football Insider, reflecting a disappointing outing from a player who was supposed to be Spurs’ creative spark.
Simons’ struggles, however, were overshadowed by Randal Kolo Muani’s poor display. The French striker, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, made his first Premier League start in this game but failed to justify his selection ahead of Richarlison and Mathys Tel.
Acting as the team’s central striker, Kolo Muani was expected to hold up play, bring others into the attack, and provide a physical presence up front. Instead, he delivered one of his worst performances to date.
Kolo Muani lost 88% of his duels (winning just one of eight) and managed only 15 touches in 62 minutes. He looked off the pace, struggled to maintain possession, and frequently lost control under pressure.
Football Insider rated his performance 2/10 an honest reflection of a game where nothing went right for him. For a player of his calibre, with pace and power to trouble defenders, the lack of confidence and composure was glaring.
The stats below reveal just how ineffective both players were against Everton:
| Player | Minutes | Goals + Assists | Touches | Unsuccessful Touches | Passes Made | Duels Won | Fouls Committed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xavi Simons | 62 | 0 + 0 | 38 | 1 | 24 | 3/6 | 0 |
| Randal Kolo Muani | 62 | 0 + 0 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 1/8 | 2 |
The numbers show a clear difference in contribution. While Simons at least managed to stay somewhat involved in play, completing more passes and winning half of his duels, Kolo Muani was almost invisible. His inability to hold up the ball or link play meant Spurs often lost momentum whenever possession reached him.
When Richarlison replaced Kolo Muani later in the game, the difference was immediate. The Brazilian showed composure, energy, and purpose. In just 15 touches, he made one key contribution that led to Sarr’s goal heading the ball back across goal for the midfielder to finish.
Richarlison also won two duels and took only one unsuccessful touch, showing sharpness and awareness that Kolo Muani lacked throughout his 62 minutes on the pitch.
Richarlison’s overall form in the league this season has been solid, with three goals and one assist. His work rate, experience, and chemistry with teammates make him the clear favourite to lead the line when Tottenham face Chelsea in their next Premier League fixture.
Unless Kolo Muani improves drastically in training or the EFL Cup game, Thomas Frank will likely turn back to the Brazilian for stability and attacking consistency.
The victory over Everton may have masked some individual shortcomings, but the problems are clear. Tottenham cannot afford passengers in key attacking positions, especially with challenging fixtures ahead.
Simons and Kolo Muani both need to show far greater intent, aggression, and influence if they want to secure regular places in the starting lineup. Simons must rediscover the creativity that made him one of Europe’s most exciting midfielders, while Kolo Muani must sharpen his movement and confidence in front of goal.
Ultimately, the Everton match was a reminder that individual brilliance matters as much as teamwork. Spurs may have taken three points, but for Thomas Frank, it’s performances like Kolo Muani’s losing nearly 90% of his duels and failing to hold up the ball that will be a cause for concern.
The message is simple: Tottenham are moving in the right direction, but unless their high-profile signings deliver, progress will remain limited.
