Everton come crashing down to Earth in brutal fashion falling again at Goodison Park 1-2 to newly promoted Luton Town.
Everton welcomed Luton Town to Goodison Park on Saturday following a two game winning streak away from home for the first time in, frankly, what felt like forever. Dyche opted to go slightly less attacking for the home matchup, starting Calvert-Lewin up top with Garner and McNeil on the wings, in front of the usual midfield three of Onana, Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye. Behind them, a back four of Ashley Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, and Mykolenko rounded out the starting eleven in front of Jordan Pickford in goal.
Everton started off well on the front foot and had a host of early chances including a thunder McNeil volley that went wide in the 3rd minute, a header that was saved by Calvert-Lewin in the 5th minute, and a curling effort from Garner that somehow went wide of the post in the 10th minute. Everton looked positively fluid in attack, but, in an all too familiar scenario, the hosts could not take their chances.
And, in the 24th minute, an even more familiar scenario, the visitors found the back of the net despite being heavily on the back foot. Doughty’s crosses were on the money and this one found Carlton Morris, whose header rattled off the post. it fell to Ashley Young who simply did not have time to clear before Luton defender powered it home from close range to put Luton up 0-1.
Seven minutes later, another disastrous moment for Everton’s defense of set pieces reared its ugly head. It was Doughty once again whipping in a dangerous set piece, this time from a free kick. Carlton Morris once again got on the end of it, unmarked, and swept home a powerful effort into the bottom corner to make it 0-2 to the visitors as a stunned silence fell upon Goodison Park.
Everton would get one back in stoppage time, as Pickford’s long ball was battled for by Garner and Onana before eventually falling to the #9 DCL who would sweep it home to grab a goal back after a length halftime review. Everton accumulated 2.99 xG in the first half but went into the break trailing 1-2.
Dyche made a change at the break, subbing off Idrissa Gueye for Jack Harrison in what can generously be described as a tepid display from the midfielder. In addition, Beto would come on in the second half along with Nathan Patterson and Arrant Danjuma. Losing two midfielders in Gueye and Doucoure to go more attacking surely meant Dyche was looking for goals in the second half.
However, the substitutions had a generally negative effect. Everton lost more control in the midfield after not having much anyway, and it seemed cluttered up top as Beto and Calvert-Lewin struggled to create clear chances. Beto did have a. couple of good opportunities from headers, but his chances looked poor and generally lacked confidence as he failed to get on the scoresheet.
Despite what supporters may have wanted, Everton languished at Goodison Park once again, falling 1-2 to Luton Town. It was a generally disheartening and overall vapid performance on Merseyside, leaving Evertonians once again down trodden. Everton’s horrendous home form continues, and it is a result that I would not lightly call embarrassing. It is clear that Dyche and company are still best trying to figure out what the strongest eleven is, but seemingly that soul-searching needs to happen quickly.
Next up for Everton, home against Bournemouth on Saturday.
UTFT.
About The Author
Leave a Reply