David Moyes has demanded that Everton rediscover their clinical edge in front of goal after going down 3-0 to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday. 

In what was the Toffees' first defeat at Hill Dickinson Stadium, set-pieces proved pivotal as Micky van de Ven's first-half double both came from corners. 

Indeed, before Sunday, Everton were the only team yet to concede from a set-piece in the Premier League this season (excluding penalties). 

They then proceeded to concede from a corner twice in the same Premier League game for the first time since December 2023 (Max Kilman and Craig Dawson for Wolves).

But it was at the other end where Moyes was most concerned, with Everton posting an expected goals (xG) total of 1.53 from their 12 shots, but only getting two on target.

In the top flight in 2025-26, only Wolves, West Ham (both seven) and Nottingham Forest (five) have scored fewer goals than Everton (nine, level with four other teams). 

In addition, only Forest (six) have failed to score in more Premier League games this season than Everton (four), while only in 2005-06 (two) have the Toffees scored fewer goals after nine games of a league campaign under Moyes than their nine this term.

"We were undone. Really disappointing. We don't concede a lot from corners and I have to praise Tottenham. Thomas Frank works a lot on it," Moyes told Sky Sports. 

"We played well today. We had as much of the game as Tottenham and probably as many chances. We got undone with set-pieces and that's what happened.

"We need to be more clinical and a bit more creative about how we can make better chances. We had enough opportunities, but couldn't get it.

"We can't change the players we've got, so we'll keep practising. The goals will come.

Everton also conceded three goals in a Premier League game for the first time during Moyes' second spell in charge (28th game). 

The result was their heaviest home defeat in the competition under the Scotsman since a 4-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion in November 2010.   

But Moyes continued to lament Everton's inability to defend set-pieces, a part of the game Spurs boss Thomas Frank believed was crucial for his team. 

Van de Ven's two goals mean 19% of all English top-flight goals this season have come via corners (45/241), the highest proportion ever in a Premier League campaign.

"It wasn't a 3-0, but it ended up 3-0 because we didn't defend our set-pieces well enough," Moyes added. 

"I thought we did a lot of positive things, but it wasn’t a positive result, which is what we were after.

"Give Spurs credit, they are good at them [set-pieces], they got on the end of things that they tried. 

"We had more corners than them but couldn't get one of those moments to go for us. That happens, today was a bit of a kick in the you-know-whats."