DANNY Ings’ clever finish wasn’t enough to make it a trio of wins for Saints as Richarlison levelled for Everton at Goodison Park.

Ings struck his 19th Premier League goal of the season in the first half which came not long after James Ward-Prowse missed a penalty for the visitors.

But a moment of brilliance from Richarlison just before the break earned the Toffees a point on their home turf.

Ralph Hasenhuttl named an unchanged starting XI from the team that pulled off a shock win against Manchester City last Sunday.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was back on the bench for Saints having been ruled out of action for the club’s previous two matches.

There was a back-and-forth start to the match, but the first opportunity fell to the visitors.

Stuart Armstrong thought he’d given Saints an eighth-minute lead, only to have his strike ruled out for offside.

Ings fed the ball to Che Adams at the far post, who then played it across the face of goal to Armstrong.

The former Celtic men then turned the ball home but had it chalked off due to being ahead of play at the time Adams picked him out.

Armstrong, involved again, was caught out in possession by Anthony Gordon inside Saints’ half and then had to bring down Richarlison to atone for his error.

However, referee Lee Mason dished out a yellow card to Saints’ winger.

Hasenhuttl’s side continued to dominate proceedings and had another good opportunity to take the lead in the 16th minute.

Ings spotted Ward-Prowse lurking outside the box and cut the ball back to him, only for Adams to block the midfielder’s shot.

Despite their dominance, Saints were given a warning in the 22nd minute.

Lucas Digne’s centre found its way to an unmarked Alex Iwobi at the back post, only for the Everton forward to blast his effort straight at Alex McCarthy.

Saints responded to this, though, and came agonisingly close to taking the lead.

Ings met Ward-Prowse’s corner and forced a brilliant save from Pickford.

Saints’ skipper was then awarded a penalty in the 27th minute after going down under a challenge from Andre Gomes inside the Everton box.

Ward-Prowse then stepped up to take the spot-kick and rifled it against the crossbar.

Saints didn’t have to wait much longer before getting a breakthrough.

Armstrong’s scuffed shot fell to Ings with the St Mary’s ace taking it past Pickford with his right foot and prodding it home with his left.

Everton were forced into an early change just before half time, Gomes being replaced by Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The Toffees then came unstuck in the 43rd minute, against the run of play, when Richarlison brought them level.

A long ball over the top was taken well by the Brazilian, with the forward then taking one touch before lifting it over McCarthy’s head.

Adams, full of confidence from scoring from 39 yards out against City on Sunday, came close to restoring the away side’s lead in the 46th minute.

A wonderful flick from Ings led to his teammate bending a strike towards the top corner, only for it to be met by Pickford.

Ward-Prowse’s sloppy pass just after the hour mark gave Richarlison the chance to charge at Jan Bednarek.

The Polish international then brought down the Brazilian just on the edge of Saints’ area and was given a yellow card.

VAR checked to see if the challenge warranted a red card, but Lee Mason’s on-field decision stood.

Hojbjerg made his comeback from injury in the 69th minute, coming on to replace fellow midfielder Oriol Romeu.

With the game seemingly heading towards a draw, Ings looked to spark some life back into Saints’ attack.

The in-form ace created some space inside the Everton box before getting a shot away that was blocked.

Nathan Redmond was the next Saint to take a crack at Pickford’s goal, although his curling effort didn’t have enough bend on it to sneak inside the net.

With the clock creeping towards 90 minutes, Armstrong had half a chance to score, but he blazed it over the crossbar.