Everton survive a late scare to secure a massive first three points in David Moyes’s second match back as manager of the club.
Everton were back at Goodison Park on the weekend to face Tottenham Hotspur, a side that, ironically, the blues have not beaten at home since Moyes was manager of the club the first time. There were two changes to the side that lost 0-1 at Goodison to Aston Villa, seeing Jesper Lindstrom and Jake O’Brien come into the lineup for Jack Harrison and Ashley Young.
It was a lightning fast start for Everton, as they came out of the locker room with a seemingly newfound energy. Passing was smoother, the press was sharper, and it seemed the toffees had a tactical plan moving forward. It took only 13 minutes for the play to pay off and for Everton to score a rare goal from open play. Lindstrom intercepted Sarr in the midfield, and then played the ball to Idrissa Gueye. Gueye made a fantastic pass to Calvert-Lewin in the box, he sent Archie Gray thew wrong way twice before firing the shot into the bottom corner beautifully for 1-0.
Tottenham picked up the intensity after the goal and nearly, and probably shoud’ve, equalized in the 34th minute. Kulusevski got into decent position and played the ball square to Son. All alone and in the center of the box, the South Korean could only hit the ball straight at Pickford for an easy save, in an exceedingly rare moment that did not see him pick out a corner. Everton saw chances from Calvert-Lewin and Mangala go just begging shortly after, and then scored a goal in the 30th minute.
Ndiaye played a brilliant one-two with Gueye before bearing down on Dragusin at center back and the Tottenham goal. It was a brilliant run which he smashed emphatically into the roof of the net for 2-0. Then, just before halftime, the blues got a fortunate third. Lindstrom played a great ball into a dangerous area in the box, it was headed on by Calvert-Lewin leaving Archie Gray no time to react, causing the ball to fly into his own net for 3-0.
One of the best halves of the season for the blues translated into a comfortable second half, until it didn’t. Ashley Young came on for Lindstrom in the 70th minute, and to no fault of Ashley Young, Tottenham scored in the 77th minute. A beautiful lobbed effort over the entire Everton backline from Kulusevski to pull one back for Spurs.
Keane and Nathan Patterson were introduced shortly after, and an air of panic and uncertainty reeked out the backline. It was noticeable, and Tottenham got a second shortly after. Richarlison headed in from close range to make it 3-2. Tottenham continued to pour forward, and it felt almost certain they would score a third, but fortunately the full time whistle came first.
Despite the wobbly end to the match, Everton’s attack looked the best it had looked all season. Lindstrom played with a new found confidence, and Jake O’ Brien did well in his starting role. A huge 3 points lifts Everton 4 points away from the drop, and fortunes continue to look to change as the club seems ready to add to the squad in the January window. The blues’ next match is away to Brighton, and presents another big opportunity.
UTFT!
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