Danny Ings continued his brilliant goal-scoring form since the Premier League restart as Southampton drew with Everton at an empty Goodison Park.

The draw was not ideal for either team’s faint European qualification hopes but it was nonetheless an entertaining clash between two in-form teams.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men took the lead through Ings’ 19th league goal of the season, and his fourth in five games since the resumption of the Premier League season, just minutes after James Ward Prowse had hit the crossbar with a penalty.

The Saints were much the better team throughout the first half but Richarlison’s fantastic finish over Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy sent the scores level. 

Both teams had chances in the second half but neither could find a winner. 

  • Ings continues pursuit of Golden Boot 

Danny Ings’ goal took him to 19 for the season in the Premier League, just three behind current top scorer Jamie Vardy with four games left to play.

Ings, who is already the first Southampton player since Ricky Lambert in the 2011/12 season to score over 20 goals in all competitions in a single season, is looking to become the first Southampton player to win a Premier League golden boot.

With Vardy, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mohamed Salah also in the hunt, the race for the golden boot is well and truly on.

  •  Draw all but ends both teams’ hopes   of European qualification 

Although Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti will be the happier of the two managers considering his side were outplayed for much of the game, neither team will be happy with a draw.

A win for either team would have increased the pressure on the teams above them in the race for European qualification.

With Manchester City’s potential ban from European competitions next season, eighth place in the league could be enough to secure a Europa League place.

But with only four games left, Everton and Southampton are five and six points behind eighth-place Arsenal respectively, all but bringing an end to both teams’ dreams of European football.