Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance39,494.
To watch match highlights from this game and all today's Premier League clashes from 5.15pm, go to the Football Score Centre app!
Sunday 14 August 2016 11:47, UK
Erik Lamela's second-half header cancelled out a Ross Barkley free-kick to earn Tottenham a 1-1 draw at Everton in their opening Premier League game of the season.
The hosts, under new manager Ronald Koeman, bossed the first half and took an early lead when Barkley's set-piece missed every team-mate but ended up in the far corner of Hugo Lloris' net.
Spurs lost Lloris to injury and needed replacement Michel Vorm to stop Everton going further ahead before Mauricio Pochettino introduced summer signing Vincent Janssen on 55 minutes and changed the course of the game.
The visitors drew level when Lamela glanced home a header from Kyle Walker's cross on the hour-mark and Janssen might have bagged the winner late on but was denied by Maarten Stekelenburg.
The Dutch goalkeeper was one of two players making their Everton debuts along with midfielder Idrissa Gueye, and both enjoyed excellent opening displays in front of their supporters.
With striker Romelu Lukaku missing through injury, Koeman played a back-three that stifled Spurs in attack and allowed Gerard Deulofeu to be the focal point up front, and he was brought down on the edge of the box to set up their opener on five minutes.
Barkley's curling delivery was aimed for the head of Phil Jagielka but it beat everyone including Lloris, who appeared to take a knock as he crumpled in the far corner of the goal, along with the ball.
Pochettino's well-drilled players responded well and Eriksen and their own debutant Victor Wanyama had long-range shots blocked, but both had to concentrate more on defending as Deulofeu caused problems.
The Spaniard forced Lloris to save again before the Frenchman was forced off on 35 minutes and substitute Vorm had to get low with his legs to deny Deulofeu twice either side of half-time.
Spurs' introduction of Janssen for Eric Dier and a switch to 4-4-2 forced Everton to defend deeper and it was the away side's game to win after Lamela stole in front of his marker to nod in the equaliser on 59 minutes.
Everton remained a threat on the break but half-chances for Kevin Mirallas and Ramiro Funes Mori were all they could muster before a glorious chance fell to Janssen to score the winner on his Premier League debut.
The hosts failed to clear a corner and it dropped to the Netherlands striker, but his close-range shot found the big palm of Stekelenburg before the ball was successfully hacked away from danger.
Stekelenburg - a summer signing from Fulham who played under Koeman on loan at Southampton last season - also denied Lamela late on after his cross was deflected towards the top corner.
Player ratings:
Everton: Stekelenburg (8) Holgate (6) Funes Mori (6) Jagielka (7) Baines (7) Gueye (8) Barry (6) McCarthy (7) Mirallas (6) Barkley (7) Deulofeu (7)
Subs used: Kone (5) Lennon (5) Cleverley (5)
Tottenham: Lloris (6) Walker (7) Alderweireld (6) Vertonghen (7) Rose (6) Dier (6) Wanyama (7) Lamela (7) Eriksen (6) Alli (5) Kane (6)
Subs used: Vorm (7) Janssen (7)
Man of the match: Maarten Stekelenburg
