Tottenham Hotspur hosted Everton on Sunday evening in their first opening matches.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s brilliant header ensured new-look Everton made a flying start to the Premier League season with a victory at Tottenham.
Calvert-Lewin gave Hugo Lloris no chance after connecting with Lucas Digne’s in-swinging free-kick to earn the Toffees a first win over Spurs since 2012.
In a high-octane encounter, Jordan Pickford produced two excellent saves to keep out Dele Alli and Matt Doherty, who was making his debut after signing from Wolves.
But with new signing James Rodriguez in excellent form, Everton fully deserved their win after a hard-working performance.
Everton should have taken the lead in the early stages but Richarlison lost his footing after rounding Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris.
New-look Everton turn on the style
After Everton’s disappointing 12th place last season, their lowest position since 2003-04, Carlo Ancelotti has embarked on an ambitious rebuilding job, specifically targeting the midfield.
As well as Rodriguez, Brazil’s Allan, and Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure have also been drafted in to provide energy and creativity in the engine room – and all three gave Ancelotti huge encouragement for the season ahead.
Rodriguez, in particular, stood out, with his quality passing setting up good chances.
The Toffees could – and should – have won by a more handsome margin against a static Tottenham side short of ideas.
Rodriguez twice picked out Richarlison after half-time but the Brazilian, who wasted a great chance in the first half, was unable to punish Spurs.
Allan, who played under Ancelotti at Napoli, was calm and composed as Everton looked rejuvenated after a poor 2019-20.
Pickford’s saves to keep out Alli and Doherty were crucial, with Ancelotti delighted with a clean-sheet win against a side that finished 10 points and six places above them last season.
What’s next?
Both teams are in cup action in midweek. While Tottenham travel to Bulgaria in midweek to face Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the second qualifying round of the Europa League on Thursday (17:00 BST), Everton host League Two Salford City on Wednesday in the second round of the Carabao Cup (20:15).
Premier League pundit Emile Heskey:
“Calvert Lewin worked his sock off, worked the defence and got his just rewards for the goal. The new recruits worked hard – Allan looks like he’s found out just how hard this league is, but he did well.”
FT. Start as we mean to go on. UTT! ✊
⚪️ 0-1 🔵 #TOTEVE pic.twitter.com/7yvBQuuubt
— Everton (@Everton) September 13, 2020
This article was previously published on BBC Sports
