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 manager’s reign at Everton started with a 1-1 draw as heroics from his goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg denied Tottenham Hotspur victory at Goodison Park.
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. Ross Barkley took only five minutes to give the home side the lead with a free-kick before Erik Lamela levelled for Spurs with a glancing header with just under an hour played.
As the visitors took control it was Stekelenburg who preserved a point for Everton with some superb stops. The Dutchman reacted quickly to Janssen’s shot from six yards before
denying Lamela a second goal of the match, stretching to tip over the
midfielder’s deflected effort.
Tottenham later lost Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in that match on the 35th minute which he quickly replaced by Michel Vorm by manager Pochetino. Meanwhile, Everton Idrissa Gueye was named Man of the Match with his pets display in the defensive midfield.