Jarrad Branthwaite’s stoppage-time header earned Everton a dramatic and hard-fought point as the Blues twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs hit the front inside four minutes at Goodison Park, when Richarlison - on his first appearance at Goodison following his exit from the Club in the summer of 2022 - turned in Destiny Udogie’s cut-back from the byline.

Everton responded well, though, and were back on level terms on the half-hour mark when Jack Harrison applied the final touch to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s close-range header.

Despite being on the back foot after that leveller, the visitors struck a counter-punch just before half-time, soaking up Everton momentum before Richarlison curled in a stunning finish from the edge of the penalty area.

There were fewer opportunities for the Toffees during a tighter second period, but Branthwaite nodded home James Garner’s deflected free-kick deep into stoppage time to earn a share of the spoils.

Sean Dyche made one change from the side that started against Fulham in midweek, with Idrissa Gana Gueye drafted straight back into the starting line-up following Senegal's AFCON elimination in place of the injured Arnaut Danjuma.

A familiar face produced a nightmare start for Everton, former Blues forward Richarlison dispatching Udogie’s centre to score the opening goal in the opening exchanges.

There was no celebration from Richarlison, in front of the Howard Kendall Gwladys Street that once adored him - and still, clearly, holds the Brazilian in high regard.

Everton’s response to that early setback was impressive, with no signs of this contest turning out to be a sleepy lunchtime kick-off.

Dyche’s side were finding their rhythm and restored parity on the half-hour mark, albeit in scrappy circumstances.

Dwight McNeil’s deep, in-swinging corner - which had already caused Spurs problems - was tipped by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario as far as James Tarkowski, who headed the ball back across goal from an acute angle, allowing Calvert-Lewin to seemingly nod home from two-yards out. The goal, however, was ultimately awarded to Harrison, who was deemed to have applied a final deft touch, following a half-time review by the Premier League Goal Accreditation Panel.

The equaliser also ended Everton’s collective run of 49 attempts without scoring in the league, while only Arsenal have scored more goals from corners this campaign (10) than Dyche’s Toffees (nine).

The hosts had their tails up but were hit with a second Spurs goal four minutes before the half-time interval.

It was Richarlison, again. This time curling past Jordan Pickford from the edge of the area with a stunning first-time finish following James Maddison’s lay-off. The former Everton favourite again refused to celebrate, pulling his jersey over his face, while being mobbed by Tottenham teammates.

The resilience of Dyche’s side has been shown consistently during his year-long tenure and was on show again here with an almost immediate response.

Cristian Romero’s stray pass in defence was pounced on by the ever-energetic Gana - but the midfielder’s 20-yard drive was deflected behind for a corner after ignoring options to his left and right.

The Toffees went close again from the resulting corner, but Vicario was on hand to keep out Godfrey’s header with his feet and then prodded away the rebound before it could be turned into the net.

Ange Postecoglou’s side came out for the second half on the front foot looking to add to their lead and fired a couple of early warning shots through Pedro Porro’s shot from the edge of the penalty area, which was firmly parried away by Pickford, and a searching early cross from Brennan Johnson that was dealt with by Ben Godfrey’s excellent recovery pace, with Timo Werner lurking at the back post.

Everton continued to search for another equaliser as the second period progressed and the sell-out crowd was awoken in anger when Godfrey’s attempted cross was judged to have come back off the Everton defender before going out of play after a lung-busting run that began well inside Everton territory.

Dyche was handed another fitness concern with 15 minutes remaining, when Godfrey limped off to be replaced by fit-again Seamus Coleman. The former was afforded an ovation by three sides of Goodison as he made his way around the pitch following an impressive individual display.

Youssef Chermiti was then introduced with 10 minutes remaining and Beto and Lewis Dobbin shortly followed as Everton added firepower in a bid to take something from the game.

Two of those changes combined with two minutes remaining, as Dobbin cut in from the left and produced an inviting cross for Chermiti, whose first-time effort with the side of his right foot was straight at Vicario.

Four minutes into second-half stoppage time, Everton landed the final blow of the contest, when Garner's inviting delivery from a free-kick was nodded on by Romero and turned home by the head of Branthwaite to spark jubilant scenes.

Next up for Everton is a trip to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday 10 February.