5 talking points as Conte draws first Premier League game as Tottenham manager

Antonio Conte failed to get his first Premier League victory as Tottenham manager on Sunday after his team were held by ten-men Everton at Goodison Park.

The game was thrown into controversy just after the hour mark when referee Chris Kavanagh overturned his decision to award a penalty to Everton.

The official initially believed Hugo Lloris had fouled Richarlison in the box, yet VAR replays showed the Frenchman got a slight touch on the ball.

Toffees fans were left furious with the decision and the game burst into life, with Mason Holgate receiving a red card on review for a nasty tackle on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Here, Mirror Football rounds-up the action from Merseyside on an important afternoon in the Conte era.

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Kane doesn't deliver

Eyes weren't just on Conte. Pundits and fans were also fascinated to see how Harry Kane would fare under the Italian.

The England skipper made a poor start to the season under previous manager Nuno Espirito Santo, scoring just once in nine Premier League outings, but many now expect him to flourish.

Discussing Conte's appointment before the game, Kane said: "It shows great ambition, to be honest. His resume speaks for itself.

"Everyone knows how highly thought of he is and what he has done as a manager in the game. You have to respect that."

His bad spell continued at Goodison Park, though, failing to make any impact on the game. Conte will be hoping Kane improves quickly.

Tottenham's decent attack

It's easy to forget after watching Jose Mourinho and Nuno put ten men behind the ball, but Tottenham do actually have some very good attacking options.

Conte deployed a front three today, with Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min playing slightly deeper than Kane. It was similar to the 3-4-3 formation the Italian deployed at Chelsea.

Although some readers will disagree, that front three is probably one of the best in the Premier League and can be effective when used right. Just ask Mauricio Pochettino.

Ex-Spurs midfielder Michael Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We're still trying to figure this Antonio Conte side out... you can see the reaction of them having a bit more desire, more willingness to go forward."

The challenge for Conte will be getting the balance right. Tottenham's defensive talents aren't that great and committing too many players forward, especially the wing-backs, could leave them exposed.

Conte rewards players

Tottenham's new manager refused to change a winning team for the Everton game after sticking with the XI that defeated Vitesse in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

Conte resisted the urge to recall Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele and Dele Alli, which suggests he's willing to reward players.

It also suggests, however, that Conte doesn't quite know what his best team is yet. After two-and-a-bit disappointing seasons, it could take some time.

Olivier Skipp did well in midfield and will probably keep his place for the next game, while Lo Celso also made an impression when he came off the bench.

Rafa running on empty

How much longer does Rafael Benitez have at Goodison Park? After failing to beat Tottenham, the Toffees have now picked up just one point from their last four Premier League games under the Spaniard.

Unlike other manages, Benitez might not get the time to fix Everton's woes. The former Liverpool boss was a controversial appointment in June and is yet to win over many fans.

And his job doesn't get any easier after the international break. Everton's next four fixtures are against Manchester City, Brentford, Liverpool, Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

There's a real possibility that Benitez could be sacked after Jurgen Klopp's side visit Goodison Park on December 1. How the mighty have fallen.

Give Conte time

If today's performance is anything to go by, it's going to take Conte time to get Tottenham firing on all cylinders.

That may concern fans as the Italian doesn't have time on his side. He's only received an 18-month contract from Spurs chief Daniel Levy and his predecessor was sacked two months after being named Premier League Manager of the Month.

Speaking before the game, former Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong said: "I just really hope the president [Levy] gives him time.

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"We all know how Daniel Levy is, he's really impatient when it comes to his club, he tries to get involved as much as he can.

"I hope he gives Conte the room and the freedom to put his stamp on this squad."

Conte needs a decent size transfer budget in January and a proper three-year contract before the end of the season.