Sheffield Utd, Everton battle to 2-2 draw

Sheffield United and Everton played out a highly entertaining 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane on Saturday lunchtime, with both teams earning their first point apiece of the 2023-24 Premier League season.

Cameron Archer scored on his league debut for the club to cancel out Abdoulaye Doucoure’s first half effort, before Jordan Pickford’s own goal gave the hosts the lead at half-time. However, Arnaut Danjuma scored for the second successive game to earn a point for the Toffees.

READ ALSO Iwobi pens farewell message to Everton fans

Sheff Utd started the match with their tails up after pushing the reigning champions Manchester City close last weekend, but it was the visitors who struck first after 14 minutes when Doucoure bundled the ball home from a corner, which had been won after Beto’s effort from the edge of the area deflected wide.

Amadou Onana climbed highest to make first contact from James Garner’s out-swinging corner, with the ball landing in the direction of Doucoure, who prodded straight at Wes Federingham. However, Sheff Utd’s goalkeeper could only divert the ball back into the path of Doucoure, who tapped into an empty net to send the away fans into bedlam.

READ ALSO Sheffield United sign Archer from Aston Villa

The hosts’ heads did not drop, though, with a nice switch of play from Oliver Norwood helping create space for George Baldock and Gustavo Hamer to combine, but the former Coventry City midfielder’s strike was pushed wide by Pickford.

However, England’s first-choice goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent the Blades from getting themselves on level terms when Archer  making his Premier League debut for the club following his £18m move from Aston Villa expertly fired into the corner from 12 yards after 33 minutes. Archer’s strike partner Oliver McBurnie had brilliantly controlled the ball from Baldock’s cross, before laying it nicely into his team-mate’s path.