A late Ross Barkley header salvaged a point for Everton as they held Hull City to a 2-2 draw.

Ronald Koeman’s side had found themselves a goal down inside seven minutes at the KCOM Stadium when Michael Dawson met a corner to fire the hosts in front.

In a frustrating half, the Blues had to wait until the 46th minute for an equaliser when a mistake from goalkeeper David Marshall saw him turn into his own net.

That goal would be a rare bright moment, though, as Everton once again fell behind when Robert Snodgrass curled home a free-kick in the second half.

Defeat appeared imminent before Barkley’s header secured a point in a result that will leave many Everton fans with a bitter taste to the end of 2016.

Here were the key talking points from Humberside…

More harm than good in Koeman’s changes

 

Everton headed into this game off the back of a morale-boosting victory over champions Leicester City.

It was baffling to many, then, that Ronald Koeman elected to revert back to a 4-2-3-1 formation and change around a winning team in the process.

The return of Phil Jagielka to the heart of the defence, ahead of Ramiro Funes Mori and Mason Holgate, was one decision that was particularly confusing.

Rotation at this time of the season is necessary given the busy schedule but the changes from the Dutchman in this game felt forced and needless.

He must find the right balance to his rotations moving forward because at present they often hinder rather than aid his team.

Jagielka’s time is up

 

Much has been made of this Everton squad being an ageing one and among those in the twilight of their career is captain Jagielka.

The centre-back has been a fine servant for the Blues since 2007 but another lacklustre performance shows his time in the team is coming to an end.

His mistake for Hull’s early opener was the latest in several big errors this season and if Everton are to move forward, the 34-year-old is another who must be replaced.

With Holgate impressing every time he plays and Funes Mori looking a more reliable option, it is time for Jagielka to take a place on the bench.

Wanted: a goalkeeper

 

The January transfer window looks likely to be a hectic one for Everton, with numerous deals seemingly in the pipeline.

While midfielders, wingers, and forwards have all been linked a goalkeeper must be among the priority signings.

Maarten Stekelenburg has not proved himself a number one and the performance of Joel Robles in this game did little to prove he is up to the standard needed either.

It seems ridiculous that a long-term solution has not been found before now and if the second half of the season is to go better than the first then surely finding a new goalkeeper must be on the agenda.

Gueye will be a huge miss

 

It is fair to say that Everton’s work in the summer transfer window was something of a disaster but one very smart capture was Idrissa Gueye.

The midfielder has firmly established himself as a fan favourite and is currently topping the Premier League charts for tackles and interceptions in 2016.

How will the Blues manage without him when he heads to the African Cup of Nations next month?

The current squad lacks anyone who can replace him and January promises to be a hard month if Koeman fails to find a solution to his absence quickly.