Encouraging. Very encouraging.
Everton began their new Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw against the much fancied Tottenham at Goodison Park.
The Ronald Koeman era is very much in its embryonic stages, but Saturday’s performance was a marked improvement on the back-end of last season. There is a lot work to be done and higher levels of fitness to reach, but the strong-willed Dutchman will be encouraged, like the Everton faithful, by what he saw from his new team.
The Blues took the lead after just four minutes through Ross Barkley. The midfielder delivered a free-kick into a good area, and Hugo Lloris couldn’t make head nor tail of it as the ball ended up in the back of the net.
Everton could’ve added to their lead through Gerard Deulofeu, but the Catalonian, spearheading the attack in the absence of Romelu Lukaku, was not clinical in front of goal.
Tottenham came on strong in the second half and equalised through an Erik Lamela header.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were pressing hard for an equaliser late on, but the game finished all square.
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