EVERTON’S training ground should be a bit quieter next week.
Some disgruntled Toffees stomped down to their Finch Farm base following the grim FA Cup defeat to Liverpool last weekend and blasted the club’s top brass after the Kop kids made their men look like babies.
Striker Richarlison hails his first-half winner as Everton go up to 11thCredit: PA:Press Association
Richarlison eases the tension around Goodison Park by seeing off Brighton with this delightful curving goalCredit: PA:Press Association
Brighton keeper Mat Ryan is powerless to stop Richarlison’s winner on 38 minutesCredit: Rex Features
Another unhappy camper became involved in a social media bust-up with Fabian Delph.
But they will all be feeling so much better this morning.
Richarlison’s classy 10th of the season was enough to see off a lacklustre Brighton side in what was a far improved display.
The Brazilian’s brilliant turn and finish towards the end of the first half was enough to calm the natives and give new boss Carlo Ancelotti a much needed three points and something to build on.
Yes, he’s only five games into his Everton reign but this was a big afternoon for the Italian.
BUZZING BERNARD
Ancelotti made three changes from the side which lost to Manchester City in the Prem on New Years Day – and the early signs were promising.
Theo Walcott and Bernard – both restored to the team alongside England stopper Michael Keane – were lively from the off with the former Arsenal winger almost nabbing a penalty with four minutes gone.
Brighton’s Lewis Dunk appeared to grab Walcott’s shirt to knock the Everton man off his balance and although good old VAR was asked to step in, the powers that be said no spot-kick.
If Walcott had hurled himself to the ground, the outcome could have been different.
Nevertheless, Everton looked lively and the more likely to steal ahead.
Brazilian Bernard was constantly involved and linking nicely with Calvert-Lewin who was posing plenty of problems for the Seagulls backline.
Carlo Ancelotti might not look it but in the end he was impressed by Everton’s response to their embarrassing loss against Liverpool’s kidsCredit: Reuters
Everton have kept nine clean sheets in past 15 home Premier League games, they just needed to get their attacking play up to scratch. On the evidence of the first 45 minutes, Ancelotti’s plans are beginning to work.
Graham Potter, meanwhile, needs to improve Brighton’s away form – they have only won once on the road in the league since the opening day – and almost fell behind on 25 minutes when Calvert-Lewin curled once just wide of the far post.
But Potter’s men were unable to break Everton’s spell and after Richarlison tested keeper Mat Ryan, he popped up again just moments later to curl in a superb – and deserved opener.
Aussie Ryan is donating £260 ( A$ 500 ) for every save made in the Premier League this weekend to help boost efforts to quell the awful fires which are ripping through his homeland.
DESPERATE BID
The Brighton keeper , however, could do nothing about the Brazilian’s opener. Lucas Digne teed him up after Bernard found him on the edge of the box and the former Watford ace superbly guided the ball into the corner.
The turn to get away from Adam Webster was pure class, as was the first touch and finish.
Brighton needed a spark. Something to get back into a game which was slipping from their grasp.
They were certainly better after the re-start with Leandro Trossard smashing against the bar on 53 minutes with Jordan Pickford beaten.
The more cutting, decisive attacking play, however, was coming from the home side.
A superb last-gasp challenge from Dunk denied Richarlison soon after. The next goal would be crucial.
Shane Duffy leads brighton protests before a strike from Everton hitman Dominic Calvert-Lewin is ruled outCredit: Reuters
Ryan remained the busier of the two keepers, brilliantly denying Calvert-Lewin twice in quick succession. Heading into the final 20 minutes, the Seagulls had mustered just one shot on target.
Veteran hitman Glenn Murray was thrown on in a desperate bid to salvage something. And it almost worked.
Calvert-Lewin thought he’d settled it with 13 minutes left when he bundled in from Digne’s corner but VAR , correctly, ruled it out for handball from the Everton hitman when attempting to push the ball over the line.
Murray did make a difference, and should have ensured a share of the spoils.
He had Pickford scrambling on 81 minutes when his close range header forced the England keeper into a smart stop and almost scored at the death only to see his close range effort slide the wrong side of the post.
It was Everton, however, who bagged the win – and deservedly so.
Everton: Pickford, Holgate, Keane, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Sigurdsson, Walcott (Coleman 73), Digne (Mina 84), Sidibe, Bernard (Delph, 71) Davies.
Brighton: Ryan, Duffy, Dunk, Stephens (Murray 71), Maupay, Trossard, Webster, Jahanbakhsh (Alzate 61), Montoya (Groß 61) , Propper, Bernardo.
How Everton could look after January transfer window with James Rodriguez and Meret replacing Sigurdsson and Pickford
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
