Erik Lamela’s second-half header salvaged a point for Tottenham against an Everton side who impressed in their first league game under Ronald Koeman.
The Toffees’ high pressing unsettled Spurs during the first half and they took the lead when Ross Barkley’s free-kick sneaked past Hugo Lloris.
The Spurs keeper then came off in the 35th minute with a hamstring injury.
The visitors equalised when Argentina winger Lamela stooped to meet Kyle Walker’s delivery from the right.
Had Everton’s players been at 100% rather than “70% physically”, as new manager Koeman suggested pre-match, then perhaps the outcome at Goodison Park would have been different.
The Toffees gave Tottenham barely any time on the ball in the opening period with their incessant pressing.
This style of football, seen under the Dutchman when he was at Southampton, has quickly been incorporated at his new club.
Young Spaniard Gerard Deulofeu, the lone man in attack with Romelu Lukaku injured, led by example as he badgered the Tottenham centre-backs Toby Aldeweireld and Jan Vertonghen when they had the ball.
Everton’s goal came from a set-piece and Lloris might be disappointed that neither he nor his defence dealt with it, as Barkley’s teasing ball in from out wide missed the heads it was intended for and bounced in beyond the reach of the France international.
The Spurs keeper did not appear to be struggling up until that point but came off 10 minutes before half-time with a hamstring problem.
Tottenham’s England striker Harry Kane was playing at Goodison Park – although you would be forgiven for not noticing.
He played a lone attacking role for 56 minutes and hardly had a sniff of the ball, which was partly due to poor service and partly due to brilliant closing down by Everton.
It was a similar story for attacking midfielders Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, who at least managed a shot on goal in the first half.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino finally decided to twist 11 minutes into the second half when he brought on new forward signing Vincent Janssen to support Kane. What that did was pull one of the Everton midfielders further forward and freed up more space in the middle third.
Kyle Walker exploited this new-found freedom in the 59th minute when he surged down the right and delivered a brilliant cross for Lamela who nodded in from close range.
Spurs should have won the game but were denied by two outstanding saves by Everton’s new goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
(BBC Sport)
