Marco Silva concluded his first season at the helm of Everton Football Club with a 2-2 draw against Champions League finalists Spurs in their first ever visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Three changes were made from the starting line up that put Burnley to the sword a week earlier, with Seamus Coleman, Dominic Calvert Lewin and Richarlison sidelined through injury. Tottenham had made five changes of their own from the team achieved the unthinkable in Amsterdam, still boasting with confidence as an early goal only perpetuated the joyous atmosphere. Formerly on Everton’s books as a teenager, Eric Dier volleyed in the first goal of the afternoon as a third minute Erik Lamella corner failed to be dealt with by Everton’s backline. The ball bounced loose and was hammered toward goal by the England international.
Everton appeared unsettled after this, which is no surprise given the fact Kurt Zouma was out of position at right-back and both Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun have not been conventional starters for Silva this season. The visitors failed to trouble Hugo Lloris with anything too substantial for the remainder of the first-half, but the away support sang away in high spirits as news had broke of Manchester City taking the lead against Brighton ensuring the red side of Stanley Park go 30 years without a league championship.
Substitutions made in the opening 20 minutes into the second-half paid off with immediate effect, as Ademola Lookman cut infield driving into the attacking third of the pitch. The youngster found Gylfi Sigurdsson in a forward position who lay the ball off for Theo Walcott, the ex-Arsenal man slipped when cutting in on his left, but the ball curled neatly into the far corner to score his fifth goal in his last nine appearances against Tottenham and bring Everton level.
The Blues looked on track to become just the second side to English side to win at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Cenk Tosun bundled his third league goal of the season across the line going from 1-0 down to 2-1 up in the space of three minutes. This did not last however, as ChristiPan Eriksen, as he had done in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park, scored another fantastic effort from outside the box, this time from a free-kick, whipped in at pace too quick for Jordan Pickford to get down in time.
Everton finish the season in 8th place, looking to build on the late-season form that saw them beat three of the top six, next season.
STATS:
Possession: 55%-44%
Shots: 11-17
Shots on target: 3-9
Tackles: 21-19
Corners: 7-4
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