Everton and Tottenham Hotspur shared points on the opening day of the new Premier League season after Erik Lamela cancelled out Ross Barkley’s early goal at Goodison Park this afternoon. In the end they were glad of a point, so small was their share of the game and so limited their attacking efforts, while Spurs will be satisfied with the result but acutely aware they could have done better.
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Many will look to the signing of Janssen as giving the side an extra dimension going forward, but the arrival of Wanyama could prove to be equally pivotal. I think we are stronger than last season, so I think we can.
“We need to analyse what happened but in the end it is the first game of the season and there are a lot of things to do”.
Mauricio Pochettino has vowed his side will bounce back and mount another title challenge this season so they’ll be desperate to get off to a positive start on Merseyside. We have made two good signings [Wanyama and Janssen] to help the team.
Goodison Park welcomes home side Everton and visiting outfit Tottenham Hotspur this weekend – but will the sides feature drastically different line-ups to those seen a year ago?
Everton manager Ronald Koeman was made to adapt his starting XI following John Stones’ sale to Manchester City in midweek.
Vincent Janssen’s movement made a difference for Spurs when he came off the bench, and he would have netted the victor for his team had it not been for a great save from Maarten Stekelenburg, who denied the forward from six yards out and minutes later tipped Lamela’s cross over the bar. I don’t like that from other managers.
Everton have not beaten Spurs in their last seven Premier League meetings (D4 L3). As mentioned, he did score ten goals last season, but he could have scored a lot more had he taken more of his chances.
It wasn’t until Dier was brought off for striker Vincent Janssen that Tottenham started to really push Everton back.
The Toffees limped to a disappointing 11th placed finish last season – and even that flattered them – in what proved to be Roberto Martínez’s least year in charge of the club.
Maarten Stekelenburg is expected to make his debut between the sticks.
“I think the first 45 minutes was really excellent”.
The two sides were locked in a stalemate, as Idrissa Gueye impressed in the heart of Everton’s midfield throughout as Spurs started to play with a objective and assert control.
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“We had to get a new defender”, Koeman added, “and Ashley brings experience, leadership and he knows the Premier League but he’s still not available for the weekend”.
