Match Report

Everton got back to winning ways and registered their third successive home win of the season with a routine if somewhat dull home victory over hapless Norwich City.

The Canaries came into the game having lost 15 straight matches Premier League matches either side of their relegation back to the Championship last year and only ever threatened to end that run when Mathias Normann tested Jordan Pickford from distance late in the first half and early in the second.

The Toffees, meanwhile, did enough to earn the victory thanks to an Andros Townsend penalty and a second goal of the campaign for Abdoulaye Doucouré who made sure of the points just as Norwich were trying to force their way back to parity in the final quarter of an hour of the match.

With Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin still out injured, Rafael Beinitez persisted with Salomon Rondon up front as the Venezuelan made his third successive start since arriving on a free transfer on deadline day while Ben Godfrey deputised for Seamus Coleman at right back again.

Everton lacked imagination going forward for much of the first half but they had their first real chance in the 19th minute when Doucouré got a rare opportunity to drive forward and when Demarai Gray dummied Alex Iwobi's cross, Townsend was there at the other side of the area but his weak shot was easily saved by Tim Krul.

A couple of minutes later, Gray beat his man smartly to swing a teasing ball across goal but there were no takers in the middle before Allan drew the foul that would hand Townsend the chance to put the hosts ahead from the spot. The Brazilian knocked the ball past Ozan Kabak and was caught late by the defender, prompting howls for a penalty from the Everton players, claims that were eventually upheld by referee David Coote following a lengthy check by Video Assistant Referee, Lee Mason, and a trip of his own to the pitch-side monitor to make sure.

Townsend made no mistake with an emphatic conversion from 12 yards but it wasn't to spark a deluge of goals from Everton who remained fairly subdued to the end of the first period when Pickford was forced into his first save of the game as he pushed Normann's low drive behind following the away side's first spell of pressure.

A great turn by Townsend early in the second half allowed him to advance into the area and fire a low shot that just missed the near post while at the other end Pickford had to palm another impressive effort from Normann over and Ben Gibson missed a free header when he failed to make contact on a dangerous Norwich free-kick.

The Canaries were growing in confidence and Normann had an opportunity to test Pickford once more with a direct free-kick after Rondon had been adjudged to have fouled him in a dangerous area but he sailed his shot over.

Ultimately, Norwich's lack of cutting edge up front meant that Everton were largely untroubled despite sitting back a little too much for the Goodison crowd's liking and the Blues' superior quality told 13 minutes from the end of the regulation 90.

Allan picked up a loose ball near the centre-circle in the Norwich half and found Gray who threaded it to Doucouré to take a touch and then lash a shot back across Krul to make it 2-0.

Tom Davies came on for Gray in the 83rd minute and had an attempt with the outside of his boot deflected behind and from that corner, Godfrey almost plundered his first Everton goal. The defender met the ball as it dropped inside the six-yard box but Krul made himself big and denied him.

Promising Academy product Lewis Dobbin was handed his debut late on and enjoyed a few assured touches as Everton comfortably saw out a win that keeps them among the leaders at the top of the table ahead of the trip to Old Trafford next weekend.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton's developing injury crisis at least had some good news ahead of today's Premier League game against Norwich City, with Lucas Digne back in training along with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Lucas Digne has been training over the past few days after the Frenchman was withdrawn from the Carabao Cup tie at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday with an ankle complaint but he is deemed fit enough to play at left-back.

Digne is joined by Jordan Pickford who has also been able to train this week after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury. However, Coleman, Gomes, Gbamin, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are all out injured and do not make this game.

Salomon Rondon, who had a shockingly poor game at Loftus Road, is named once again in the starting line-up, preferred to younger players who have come through the Academy in Simms and Dobbin — none of whom were in the U23s squad for their defeat to Manchester United last night.

Demarai Gray, Andros Townsend, and Alex Iwobi all start, with Anthony Gordon and Tom Davies returned to the bench. Jonjoe Kenny did not impress in the cup defeat with Ben Godfrey deputizing today for Coleman. Kieran Dowell was on the bench for Norwich.

It was a lovely autumn day for football, 3 pm on a Saturday at a packed Goodison Park, with Norwich, looking more like flamingoes than canneries, getting things underway. It was pretty cagey stuff for the first few minutes until Digne dug out a decent cross but Rondon was whistled for a foul but at least it was all being played in the visitors' half.

Everton got an early corner but Townsend could not beat the first defender. A great ball from Keane out to Townsend won another corner that was well whipped in. Townsend then swung in a great cross but Rondon's run at it was well blocked as the tempo of the game flagged quite a bit, with nothing of note going on.

Everton were perhaps trying to over-elaborate their little triangles, especially down the left, and going nowhere in a hurry. There was a lame sort-of shot on goal from Iwobi... no, it was more like a backpass. Townsend was able to cleverly steal a ball from the very lively Williams but when it came back to him, Townsend's shot was pretty lame too. 20 minutes of 'pragmatic' boredom so far...

Some momentary excitement when Gray whipped in a teasing cross... so much so that no-one could profit from it. Half-way through a pretty poor meaningless boring first half. Kabak went on a good run but forgot to shoot at Pickford's goal.

Allan seemed to be fouled by Kabak in the area but David Coote wasn't interested. Lee Mason looked at the VAR... time after time after time... and Coote eventually decided that yes, it was a penalty for Everton. Andros Townsend stepped up while Krull tried to put him off, and scored sweetly.

Iwobi just about fed Gray and his shot was put behind but the corner was really poor again. Digne set up a half-chance for Rondon but he turned like the proverbial cruise liner... which is not at all, and any chance was gone. The drab and uninspiring football carried on toward the break with Everton relaxing and Norwich thinking they could level the score, Normann's shot requiring a save from Pickford.

Everton resumed with no real sign that the pace of the game would be elevated very much above a Salomon Rondon trot. But Rondon did steal the ball and set up Iwobi for a shot from distance that would dribble feebly well wide of Krull's goal.

Townsend, with a nice turn, looked to fire it a little closer but still off target. Iwobi did really well to get the ball out to Godfrey who returned it with interest and Iwobi was just utterly pathetic, he made no attempt to challenge and (god forbid) score.

At the other end, Pukkki looked like he might beat mina but then Normann lashed a shot goalwards that Pickford had to push over. But nothing from the corner.

Norwich realized that they could up the tempo and push Everton back, Digne getting booked and really, how on earth did Gibson not score for Norwich from the excellent delivery off the free-kick?

Kabak clipped Gray but escaped a second yellow. A well-delivered free-kick from Digne almost brought the second goal that the increasingly nervous fans were keen on seeing.

Williams went on another great run, out-pacing Godfrey who needed help from Mina. A decent corner from Norwich but they did not attack it. Norwich were looking more and more adventurous without creating a real chance. But it would only take one...

Norwich made changes and continued to take the game to Everton, winning a corner that was worked around until Gray went marauding to relieve the pressure, until Doucouré lost the ball. But Everton then won a corner and looked to be at least facing the right way.

Tzoilis put an excellent cross in again and still no takers on either side as it went right through Pickford's 6-yard area, as his shoulder played up on him again, needing treatment. Norwich had a free-kick for handball by Digne but contrived to totally waste it as Gordon replaced Townsend.

Everton suddenly decided they were in a game, Allan stealing the ball in midfield, feeding Gray for a nice jinking run, and he set up Abdoulaye Doucouré for the coup de grace, an excellent finish through Krull.

So, Everton comfortable, 10 minutes left... time of Simms or Dobbin to replace Rondon? No; Davies to replace Gray. Gordon tried to dribble away from Williams and came close to winning the entertaining footrace until the Man Utd loanee fouled the Everton man.

Davies again saw the whites of the goalposts but chose to evade them as only he can. Godfrey got in for a third from close range but Krull denied him. Lewis Dobbin then came on for a couple of minutes, replacing Alex Iwobi, for his senior debut.

Scorers: Townsend (pen:29'), Doucouré (77')

Everton: Pickford, Godfrey, Keane, Mina, Digne [Y:56'], Allan, Doucoure, Townsend (76' Gordon [Y:90+2']), Gray (83' Davies), Iwobi (89' Dobbin), Rondon.
Subs not Used: Begovic, Lonergan, Kenny, Holgate, Branthwaite, Simms.

Norwich City: Krul; Aarons, Kabak [Y:54'] (69' Rashica), Hanley, Gibson, Williams [Y:84'] (86' Giannoulis); Lees-Melou [Y:80'], Normann (69' Tzolis), McLean; Sargent, Pukki.
Subs not Used: Gunn, Rupp, Gilmour, Dowell, Idah, Omabamidele.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Having suffered the ignominy of a Carabao Cup defeat to Championship side QPR, Everton turn their full attention to their Premier League campaign which resumes on Saturday against Norwich City.

Thankfully, the Blues' potential selection crisis at full-back looks to have been avoided for now after Rafael Benitez indicated that Lucas Digne has been training over the past few days.

The Frenchman was withdrawn from the Carabao Cup tie at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday with an ankle complaint and was immediately a doubt for this Premier League fixture against Norwich but he looks set to be available for selection.

Seamus Coleman remains sidelined with a hamstring problem but Digne could be joined in the team to face the Canaries by Jordan Pickford who has also been able to train this week after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury.

Coleman, along with Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, may not be ready to return until after the next international break, however.

"[Richarlison is] not available," Benitez confirmed. "He is getting better but the two strikers are not available so we have to make sure the people around are capable to score goals. We have done with different players.

It's a question of time for [Salomon Rondon]. He has to improve his fitness."

When asked if any of the injured trio will be playing for their countries during the upcoming international break, the manager said: “No chance. They will not be available."

Benitez also confirmed that Jean-Philippe Gbamin remains sidelined because of injury and that André Gomes is also out after starting in the cup tie on Tuesday before coming off in the second half.

The continued absence of that first-choice front pairing leaves Benitez short on options, with Rondon the only senior recognised centre-forward available. On that basis alone, the Venezuelan might get another start even though he does look well short of match fitness but the manager could also opt for Demarai Gray up front, supported by Andros Townsend, Alex Iwobi and, perhaps, Anthony Gordon.

The teenager did enough at QPR to suggest he is deserving of more opportunities in the side, although whether that stretches to starting at the moment remains to be seen.

On the other side of defence from Digne, Jonjoe Kenny's weak showing in the cup defeat means he is unlikely to retain his place at right-back, which leaves Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate as the likely deputies for Coleman.

As far as Norwich are concerned, there is only one statistic that has haunted the Evertonian psyche since the Toffees went down at Aston Villa last weekend and the Canaries extended their sequence of successive losses in the Premier League to 15 when they were beaten at home by Watford.

It's a run of defeats that stretches back to two seasons ago when the East Anglian club were relegated and Godfrey was still in their team. It's also one that is tailor-made for a team coming to Goodison Park, where torrid runs of form and goal droughts are miraculously ended by the accommodating Blues.

Such generosity pre-dates Benitez, of course, so the hope is that he can keep his charges focused and motivated to get back to winning ways and get the three points that they should do based on the form book and the respective strengths of the squads on paper.

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 25 September 2021
Referee: David Coote
VAR: Lee Mason
Last Time: Everton 0 - 2 Norwich City

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Godfrey, Mina, Keane, Digne, Allan, Doucouré, Townsend, Iwobi, Gray, Rondon

Lyndon Lloyd

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