With two clean sheets in a row, the Italian looks to have sorted Spurs' defensive problems but the issues at the top end of the pitch are only mounting. In their four Premier League games thus far, they have failed to score a single goal.

They have amassed an expected goals (xG) tally of just 3.4 in 2026/27, the joint-third-worst record in the division alongside Aston Villa while they rank 16th in the league for big chances created with just seven.

With Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison to come back into the lineup, creatively they will improve. However, they also need to find a more consistent goalscorer than Dominic Solanke.

Why Solanke let Spurs down vs Everton

When Solanke scored on his first start back after injury against Charlton at the end of last month, it was timely.

After all, they had just been battered by Brentford on the road, losing 3-0. In that game, a certain Richarlison went missing. He didn't have a shot and only had 17 touches of the ball.

Unfortunately for Spurs, Solanke has not been much better since then. That goal against the Addicks was well taken but in his 85 minutes of Premier League football since, the games against Newacstle, Nottingham Forest and Everton, he has offered very little.

Solanke played a combined 21 minutes versus Forest and the Toon before he was afforded a rare start this term against the Toffees. It did not go well.

The Englishman was taken off after 63 minutes having registered just 20 touches. No starter on either team managed fewer than that. Furthermore, his tally of 12 passes was the joint-worst of any outfield player on the Spurs team alongside new signing Omar Marmoush.

To add further insult to injury, the 28-year-old was one of the slowest players on the pitch. His top speed of 27.7 km/h was the lowest of any player to start the game.

That all sums up his limitations. He's not quick enough to run in behind, he's not capable of linking the play and he's not a goal threat either. Solanke had no shots on Saturday evening in the 0-0 draw.

That said, he's not even the biggest problem right now.

Spurs have a bigger problem than Solanke

Tottenham are in a rut, certainly in attack. The hope is that new signings Savio and Marmoush come good but the early signs are ominous. While the Brazilian scored on debut against Charlton, it's been a stop-start campaign thus far.

Marmoush has also struggled. He is the premier goal getter in the team now but has so far not had much of a sniff of goal. Still, they are the future of De Zerbi's side. They will no doubt play an important part in any success the team has this term.

The opposite is true of Richarlison who has become a huge headache for the club right now. Signed in a £60m deal back in July 2022, the attacker's performances have always been littered with inconsistency.

During a dreadful first year at Tottenham, the forward scored just one Premier League goal. He bounced back in 2023/24, bagging 12 in all competitons but a year later he only netted five, four of which came in the league.

In 2025/26, he was a rare shining light as the Lilywhites nearly suffered relegation. The Brazil international ended the season as their top scorer on 12. On paper, therefore, he was a valuable player.

Yet, that doesn't tell the full story. The fact is that Richarlison is too inconsistent; he always has been truth be told. He's incredibly frustrating and that was the case in the early knockings of the season.

He scored three times in pre-season yet that aforementioned start away at Brentford looks to have been the final nail in the coffin. After the transfer window closed, he was excluded from Spurs' Premier League squad for the campaign.

It is safe to say that the 29-year-old has never lived up to expectations. Back in 2020, the player stated: "Ancelotti himself has already said that I'm among the ten best strikers he has coached and that's an honour for me. It motivated me a lot, I want to improve even more. He already told me that I'll win the Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or), that I'll win several championships. I'll trust the man's word."

Sadly for Richarlison, Ancelotti was wrong. The player couldn't be further from a Ballon d'Or nomination if he tried. He's not played a single minute since that 3-0 loss to Brentford.

It's a puzzling situation. After all, Tottenham are now stuck with a high-earner on their books who isn't going to play.

A move to Everton at the end of the window fell through and since then he has been searching for a club. He was in talks to move to Turkey but that did not materialise and as a result, he would like to cut his contract short.

Richarlison's deal expires next summer and is keen to be released. However, talks between his agent and the club have not been positive.

Spurs are unwilling to negotitate a settlement with the player and at the moment, it looks as though he'll go until January without playing a single minute of football.

It seems that he is paying the price for years of inconsistent performances. Solanke may be next too if he isn't lucky.