A reshaped Everton team boosted by the additions of gun trio James Rodriguez, Allan and Abdoualye Doucoure launched Carlo Ancelotti's first full season in charge on a perfect note by beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on Sunday.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed the only goal of the game from a fine Lucas Digne free-kick to give Everton their first win at Spurs since November 2008.

We look at some of the main talking points from a consummate Everton away-day display.

Three And Easy

Carlo Ancelotti hinted he might take the plunge and play a couple of his new signings from the off on day one of the new campaign.

There was an element of surprise nevertheless when Ancelotti threw all three in at the deep end.

To watch Allan, James Rodriguez and Abdoulaye Doucoure, however, was to appreciate selecting the trio represented a straight forward choice for Everton’s Italian boss.

James certainly validated his pre-match words about good footballers being capable of settling anywhere without fuss.

The Colombian’s slender frame belies a footballer who is strong and athletic.

Ben Davies, for instance, was alarmed to see James leap to his feet and show the defender a clean pair of heels after the Tottenham player’s initial heavy-handed challenge.

The biggest unknown when a renowned ball player arrives from southern Europe concerns the new man’s ability to transfer his guile to the frantic and aggressive Premier League.

Five chances created – joint-highest in the division over the past two days and the most by any player on debut in England's top flight for six years – indicate James will be okay on that score.

He was influential from deep as well, connecting with Lucas Digne on a number of occasions, one speared pass flat across the deck travelled 50 yards into the overlapping Frenchman’s feet.

Tottenham could see James wanted to drift infield and pass right to left. But they couldn’t stop him.

There was a feint to give Dele Alli the slip and a strong arm to brush off Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg when the Spurs midfielder tried to rough up James after the whistle.

James completed four interceptions and made two tackles and evidently enjoys putting in a shift off the ball.

No suggestion either of James taking the safe option on debut for fear of a poor first impression.

The South American puts the ball at risk, tries things expecting the best and backs himself and his team to retrieve possession if required.

He had three attempts at goal and struck 47 successful passes, 11 of them in the final third.

Startling to think he walked in the doors less than a week ago.

Allan bounded across the ground in front of Everton’s back-four. He intercepted, tackled and hassled opponents to distraction.

The Brazilian lived up to his reputation as much more than a win-it-and-give-it midfielder, too, the sort who does the grunt work, then passes to a more gifted teammate.

Allan moves the ball forward – 20 of his 46 successful passes went upfield, an unusually high proportion for a deep-lying midfielder – capable of threading tight spaces or aiming more expansive passes for his attackers.

He was comfortable receiving possession when hemmed in by white shirts, manipulating the ball to create a passing option – or, as he did on three occasions, earning a free-kick to relieve pressure.

Allan recovered possession eight times, executed four successful tackles and made three clearances.

And looked like an off-the-peg Premier League footballer.

Doucoure, meanwhile, came to Everton vowing to add energy to the team’s football.

To prove the job of box-to-box midfielder isn’t completely passe.

He sprinted back towards his own goal like a man possessed early in the second half to dispossess Lucas Moura and ruin a dangerous Spurs counter.

Twice in the first half he was pivotal in Everton troubling Tottenham: once when stealing possession 25 yards from his own goal, again collecting a second ball deep in home territory.

James struck inches wide from the latter incident, while Doucoure’s toe in front of Heung-min Son prompted a surge which ended with Toby Alderweireld deflecting wide from Richarlison.

The Frenchman created four chances in all, more than any other Premier League midfielder this weekend.

Doucoure is imposing, instantly adding presence to Everton’s engine room.

His leggy stride eats up ground – the player drives with the ball at his feet, too, completing two successful dribbles – and in possession is unhurried and accurate.

Clean Slate, Clean Sheet

Everton recorded only one clean sheet in their closing seven games last term.

Whatever mitigating factors were at play, they are moot now.

This was a clean slate.

The new boys in Everton’s team will undoubtedly grab the headlines but shutting out Tottenham – whose attack is led by one of the world’s best strikers – required fantastic performances from more recognisable faces.

Seamus Coleman, on his 275th Everton appearance, defended immaculately, using his experience to suppress the usually electric Heung-min Son.

Coleman’s positioning to deny Son a clear run at goal in the opening half was tremendous. He galvanised and pressed and didn’t entirely abandon his attacking instincts.

The Irishman talked towards the end of last season in terms of Everton’s players fighting for parts in Carlo Ancelotti’s grand plan.

Coleman looked every inch a man for the future.

Yerry Mina, back from a muscle injury, won a succession of headers and defended intelligently.

The same goes for Michael Keane, who was instrumental in taming Harry Kane.

Indeed, the Tottenham striker didn’t have shot on target.

Keane’s total of eight headed clearances was the highest recorded in the Premier League this weekend. Mina, with five, was tied second.

When Spurs did find their range, they met their match in Jordan Pickford.

The goalkeeper, buoyed by successive clean sheets on international duty, didn’t put a foot wrong.

Saves at close quarters from Dele Alli and Matt Doherty were pure Pickford

The 26-year-old commanded his box and twice enabled his defenders to heave huge sighs of relief with haymaker punched clearances as Spurs went more direct in their hunt for an equaliser.

His booming shout of keeper and safe hands to claim Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's high ball desperately tossed into the box deep into stoppage time was the work of a confident man.

Roving Richie

Carlo Ancelotti might have thrust his head back in anguish when Richarlison struck over after a thrilling burst but you sense Everton’s manager wouldn’t trade his busy Brazilian for anyone.

Richarlison aimed seven shots in all and it is testament to his self-belief and perseverance that he kept coming back for more.

Honestly, there are very few players in world football who can match the comprehensive package provided by Everton’s versatile forward.

Richarlison is lightning quick – an attribute shadowed by his other strengths. He is strong off both feet and blessed with magnificent close control.

He runs as fast with the ball as without it, the 23-year-old tackles anything that moves and chases and harries like an archetypal English centre-midfielder.

Richarlison’s pace and positivity gets Everton up the pitch quickly – he completed 10 take-ons (beating his man) against Tottenham – and he puts the frighteners on opponents; witness Matt Doherty transfixed as Richarlison skipped into the penalty box before firing narrowly beyond the far post.

The South American has a keen social conscience and was named Everton’s PFA Community Champion for his off-field work last season.

On the pitch, though, perspective goes out the window.

Richarlison plays football as if his life depends on it. For 90 minutes, the game and Everton’s result is the most important thing in the world.

His five tackles against Spurs were more than any of his fellow Premier League forwards this weekend.

He won six free-kicks – one following a late challenge from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, maddened by his team’s inability to get a handle on Richarlison – and recovered possession 12 times.

Richarlison was predominantly deployed as a central striker by Ancelotti in the second half of last season and for the second campaign running was the Club’s joint-highest scorer.

Back on the left at the outset of this campaign, he reignited a productive understanding with Lucas Digne, who topped his own excellent performance by supplying Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the decisive goal and has created more chances than any defender in Europe’s top-five leagues since his Everton debut in August 2018.

DCL Steps Up

Dominic Calvert-Lewin made giant strides last season.

Claiming Everton’s number 9 shirt – at his own request – he responded to the task of delivering the goals that jersey demands.

He scored 15 in all competitions but, in his own opinion, should have had more.

Carlo Ancelotti is a confirmed fan – the player signed a new five-year contract within three months of the manager’s appointment.

Calvert-Lewin’s hold up play has come on leaps and bounds. His decision making is excellent and he is proficient coming to the ball or running behind defences.

Everything about the Englishman’s game was in good order on Sunday.

He won five aerial battles – only three Premier League players surpassed that figure this weekend – and looked a natural fit between Richarlison and James Rodriguez.

The two South American stars bounced passes off Calvert-Lewin and clipped balls for the centre-forward to use his pace beyond Tottenham’s backline.

What Ancelotti wanted next from Calvert-Lewin was more ruthlessness in the box.

The 23-year-old had played well here in the opening 55 minutes, got through an awful lot of important work, but not had a sight of goal.

That’s how it goes in the Premier League and explains Ancelotti’s demand.

How Calvert-Lewin responded to his latest challenge.

Lucas Digne’s free-kick from the left was as good as it gets.

But Calvert-Lewin had a lot to get right.

He steamed into a pack of bodies, timing his run to the second, and got the jump on Eric Dier.

The header was exquisite, powerful and buried inside Hugo Lloris’s right post.

France’s World Cup winning goalkeeper didn’t have a hope.

Ancelotti and his staff erupted, haring from their seats.

Everton’s players converged in a corner where their supporters would normally have gathered, whooping and screeching and having a good go at creating the noise we’d have heard in normal circumstances.