Richarlison sends heartwarming 7-word message after brace in Spurs v Everton

Everton were good value for their result on Saturday, battling from behind twice to claim a vital point against Tottenham Hotspur.

Whilst the visitors took an early lead, Dominic Calvert-Lewin later bundled home a close-range header to restore parity after just 30 minutes (it was later adjudged to be Jack Harrison’s goal, though).

And having dominated ever since the opening three minutes, Sean Dyche will have been buoyed at the prospect of going on to claim all three points.

That was, until Richarlison struck again just before half time, leaving the Toffees reliant on Jarrad Branthwaite’s last-gasp equaliser at the death to snatch a draw.

For Goodison Park, it was an enthralling afternoon, in which they went toe-to-toe with a side vying to claim Champions League football once again.

But, it was marred by the opposition’s Brazilian marksman scoring a brace in reserved and regretful fashion.

What did Richarlison say about Everton?

Richarlison spent four successful years on Merseyside, and had become ingrained within the club despite its shortcomings.

He was a galvanising figure, and took the goalscoring burden on his back during the 2021/22 term to ensure that relegation would not become a reality.

For that alone he achieved heroic status, not to mention his exploits in winding up seemingly every other football fan outside of Everton.

The bond he formed with Evertonians was special, and one he has clearly not forgotten despite his £60m move to north London in 2022.

In fact, his latest Instagram post detailed this, as he once again posted a picture with a young Everton fan with whom he had seemingly shared many photographs.

Alongside it read the heartwarming seven-word caption: ‘Yesterday I met my long time partner’.

Why did Everton fans applaud Richarlison?

There has been a wide debate following Everton’s 2-2 draw with Spurs over why and if the home crowd should have applauded their former star man.

However, the adulation was not given to him for finding the net against them, but instead for what he did afterwards.

Initially wheeling away in celebration, it took a moment for him to realise who he had just scored against. Instantly he stopped and put his head in his hands.

As he was mobbed by his teammates, who all sought to congratulate him for giving them the lead with a tidy left-footed finish from close range, his muted celebration detailed the huge respect he still has for his former club.

Once the crowd around him had dispersed, Richarlison held his hands aloft in apology, praying for forgiveness after his goal.

The applause came for that reaction, not for the finish itself, and to me, that was a valid response for fans to have. After all, the wounds of his exit are still far from healed, and it is widely believed that were Everton not in such a dire position he would likely have never left.

His love for the club is still evident today, even nearly two years on since his departure.