How Richarlison’s double helped Spurs beat Burnley

Two goals from Richarlison, including a stunning scissor kick, helped Thomas Frank win his first Premier League match in charge of Tottenham as his Spurs side proved too good for newly promoted Burnley.

Brazil forward Richarlison only scored four Premier League goals in 2024-25 but was superb as he showed the form that convinced Spurs to pay £60m to sign him from Everton three years ago.

He scored the first league goal in the Frank era when he did superbly to spin and control a shot on the turn after only 10 minutes, following excellent work on the right from Mohammed Kudus on his Spurs league debut following his £55m summer move from West Ham.

The two linked up again for Spurs' second, Kudus hanging up a cross from the byeline and Richarlison acrobatically volleying in, with the goal repeatedly shown and enjoyed by the home fans on the stadium's four big screens.

It got even better for Tottenham in the 66th minute as Richarlison started the move - the ball fell for Pape Matar Sarr and he played it through for Brennan Johnson to race clear and provide a clinical finish.

Richarlison was given a standing ovation by the home crowd when he was replaced in the 71st minute by Dominic Solanke, who almost grabbed a fourth but shot narrowly wide.

Former Brentford boss Frank only became Spurs manager in June, replacing the sacked Ange Postecoglou - who was dismissed 16 days after guiding the club to their first trophy in 17 years when they beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final.

Tottenham analysis: Perfect Premier League start for new boss Frank

Tottenham had performed well on Wednesday in Frank's first competitive game in charge as they gave Champions League holders Paris St-Germain a fright in the Uefa Super Cup in Udine, Italy.

Spurs had led 2-0 after 84 minutes only to concede twice late on, including a 94th-minute equaliser, before losing 4-3 on penalties.

But they bounced back from that disappointment as Lucas Bergvall, impressing in an attacking midfield role, nearly scored within the opening 30 seconds only to be denied by away goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

The Spurs fans helped create a fantastic atmosphere as they chanted how they were "champions of Europe, we know what we are".

The positivity continued when Ghana forward Kudus, who has looked an excellent addition, did superbly to cross from the right wing with Richarlison doing the rest with a composed finish.

The Brazilian, who only scored five goals in all competitions for Tottenham in 2024-25, started in the number nine role against PSG and was used in the same position against the Clarets - with Kudus wide right and Johnson wide left - while Solanke was among the substitutes.

With attacking midfielder James Maddison out for the majority of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season and forward Dejan Kulusevski also recovering from a serious knee injury, Richarlison will be vital for Spurs' hopes this season.

It is only the first weekend of the season, but you will struggle to see a better goal throughout the campaign than Richarlison's scissor kick - on a perfect day and a perfect start to the job for Frank.

Tottenham were clearly the better team and, after finishing 17th last season, with fan demonstrations a regular occurrence, this was a great way for Frank and Tottenham to start their league campaign.

Burnley analysis: Clarets immediately find out how tough step up is

Last season the three relegated teams were the trio that had come up the season before - Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton - while Burnley have either won promotion to the top flight or been relegated out of it in each of the past four seasons.

Tottenham away in their opening match of the campaign always looked a tough task for Scott Parker, against the side for whom he spent two years as a player - and it proved to be a miserable return for him and defender Kyle Walker, who played for Spurs for seven years.

The Clarets picked up 100 points in the second tier last year as they came second in the Championship, but their main strength was in defence as they kept 30 clean sheets.

James Trafford kept 29 of them but has since moved to Manchester City, with former Newcastle keeper Dubravka beaten only 10 minutes into his Burnley debut.

But Parker will be encouraged by how his side performed when 1-0 down and will feel annoyed his side were not awarded a penalty at the end of the first half, when Jaidon Anthony looked to be clumsily bundled to the ground by Pedro Porro.

Parker was furious his side did not get the decision, but as soon as Burnley conceded their second goal - something they did not do in any of their 46 league matches in 2024-25 - the game was beyond them and it became a matter of trying to keep the score down.

What's next for these teams?

Tottenham play at Manchester City on Saturday, 23 August (12:30 BST), before returning to north London to entertain Bournemouth a week later.

Burnley play their first home league game of the season on Saturday when they entertain fellow promoted side Sunderland (15:00 BST) and then play at home to Championship side Derby County in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, 26 August.