Everton started their 2016/17 Premier League campaign with a satisfying 1-1 draw against a strong Spurs side.
The Blues were without injured Seamus Coleman and Romelu Lukaku, who were replaced by Mason Holgate and Gerard Deulofeu who played as the lone striker.
After an impressive first half, the Toffees went in at the break 1-0 up through a Ross Barkley free-kick which evaded Hugo Lloris.
Everton began to fade later into the game, with Ronald Koeman stating before the match that his players were 70% fit, alluding to their lack of fitness. Spurs soon equalised through Erik Lamela and looked to push on for the winner, forcing several brilliant saves from Maarten Stekelenburg.
Koeman’s side were able to stay strong and secure their first point of the season. With such an impressive first half performance, without being at full fitness, the performances can only improve with transfer movement likely in the coming weeks.
