Tottenham top Everton in best top-flight start since 1963

MANCHESTER, England: The Antonio Conte effect is truly taking hold at Tottenham. A 2-0 win against Everton on Saturday secured Tottenham’s best start in the English Premier League era after 10 games. Their 23 points moved Spurs level with second-placed Manchester City and represented their highest tally at this stage since 1963.

Spurs keep looking more like a genuine title contender, supported by their recent good record against City. Their first scheduled league meeting last month was postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and Conte wasn’t disappointed. Spurs are warming up nicely.

Pep Guardiola has led City’s dominance of England and assembled arguably the most powerful squad in Europe, but counterpart Conte is a proven winner himself at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan. That was always the fascinating aspect of his decision to accept the post at Tottenham, a team that haven’t won the English title since 1961 and counts the 2008 League Cup as their last trophy. Mauricio Pochettino came close to ending that search for major silverware – reaching the Champions League final in 2018 – but the club’s fortunes have unraveled since then.

Now Conte has provided new energy and new hope. And as long as Harry Kane is fit . .

. Kane opened the scoring for Tottenham about an hour in after being brought down by Jordan Pickford in the box. It was the England international’s 14th goal in his last 11 games against Everton.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sealed the win late. These are early days in the campaign, but Tottenham’s consistency is already seeing their stand out as one of the teams that look most capable of threatening City, with the Conte factor pivotal. Elsewhere, Leicester drew with Crystal Palace 0-0 at home and