Spurs beats Everton 3-2 thanks to Harry Kane double, while Manchester City beats Sunderland
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If Spurs are to have any hope of a shock Premier League title win, they need frontman Harry Kane to continue his blistering form - and the star striker kept his end of the bargain in his side's 3-2 win over Everton.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side also continued a recent resurgence, beating Sunderland 2-0, but the focus of most attention came in London for the meeting of second versus seventh on the table.
Kane has copped plenty of criticism over his career, from people who say that he is not a truly top-class striker; or that he does not produce the goods for England; or early on that he would be a one-season wonder after his brilliant 2014/15 season where he bagged 21 goals for Spurs.
Those doubters would have to be quietening down now, however, as the man from Walthamstow in London continues to prove his abilities with brilliant goals - and plenty of them - for the north London side.
His latest test came against Everton, and the Toffees' star striker Romelu Lukaku, who has been in fine form himself this season.
Kane and Lukaku went into the game at White Hart Lane on 17 goals apiece, but although both men got on the scoresheet, it was Kane who decided the outcome.
Kane opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a 25-metre rocket shot and doubled his side's advantage early in the second half - his 19th league goal of the season and 14th strike in 12 games in all competitions.
Lukaku, vying for the Premier League's Golden Boot with Kane, struck his 18th of the season with 10 minutes left before Dele Alli scored brilliantly for Spurs in stoppage time and Enner Valencia replied immediately for the visitors.
Spurs have now won nine consecutive home Premier League games for the first time while Everton's nine-match unbeaten run in the league came to an end.
"It was a fantastic performance even if we are a little disappointed to concede the goals," Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
"We dominated the game and played with a lot of confidence. It's important because now comes the most important period in the season."
Spurs took full advantage with their win. That left them seven points behind leaders Chelsea who face West Ham United on Tuesday (AEDT).
City are a further point behind Spurs with a game in hand after goals by Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane eased them to a 2-0 win at Sunderland.
The loss means Sunderland remains rooted to the bottom of the table.
City, who have the chance to move second when they play at home to Stoke City on Thursday (AEDT), were in third gear at times against Sunderland but had far too much class.
It took them until three minutes before the break to edge ahead. A sweeping move saw David Silva release Raheem Sterling whose cross was dinked home by Aguero.
Silva was involved in City's second — a perfectly-weighted pass allowing Sane to smash a shot past Jordan Pickford.
City have kept five successive away clean sheets in all competitions and have 10 away league wins, although Guardiola was still not totally satisfied.
"It was a good victory," he said. "But we were passing the ball between ourselves in the last 25 minutes."
"I don't like to defend a result and be near our box. It is okay if you're 3-0 or 4-0 up but not 2-0."
ABC / Reuters
Topics: sport, soccer, english-premier, england
