Match Report

In the expectation of a busy summer of transfer business, few doubted the decision by Everton to let Josh King go at the end of last season. The Norwegian international had shown flashes of promise off the bench in his few months with the club after arriving from Bournemouth in January but he was largely over-looked by Carlo Ancelotti and failed to make a single start under the Italian. If he wasn't going to play, better to release him and sign someone more to the manager's liking.

As it would turn out, Ancelotti left Goodison Park at the start of June and following an alarmingly austere summer, Everton effectively ended up trading King for Salomon Rondon, a player whose limitations have been a hugely uncomfortable feature of Rafael Benitez's reign so far and who was shown once again today to be utterly ineffective up front for the Blues.

At the other end and perhaps with a point to prove, King ran riot for Watford, scoring on his return to Goodison to level things up in the first half and then completing his hat-trick as Everton utterly fell apart in the final quarter of an hour.

Not for the first time as Benitez tries to build his fitness, Rondon ended up playing the full 90 minutes while Anthony Gordon, the Toffees' star man for the first hour, was the man withdrawn to enable Richarlison to enter the fray. The manager would explain afterwards that it was a decision based on the teenager's energy levels but the denizens of the Old Lady let their displeasure be known in no uncertain terms with a loud chorus of boos as Gordon left the field. After all, Rondon hasn't looked remotely fit since making his debut as a substitute against Burnley in mid-September but he stayed on to the increasingly bitter end.

Richarlison's goal within three minutes of coming on might have provided Benitez with a veneer of vindication but after Demarai Gray also departed the fray with 13 minutes to go — he had come out of a challenge hobbling a few minutes prior but he has been substituted late in matches before with the team ahead — Everton fell apart.

The inquest over the substitutions often dominates the aftermath of a game that turns so decisively but this match was lost just as much in midfield and at the back where Benitez's team were utterly shambolic, particularly in the closing stages, and — once again — worryingly vulnerable at set-pieces. Michael Keane and the 2021-22, post-Covid version of Ben Godfrey have made for an awkward and susceptible-looking pairing at the best of times but today, with both players turning in often shocking performances, it looks to be a doomed partnership.

Yerry Mina was a big miss against West Ham last weekend and he proved to be again today, sidelined as he was by a hamstring complaint, and with Abdoulaye Doucouré and Dominic Calvert-Lewin missing, Everton proved that without those important components of their metaphorical spine, they have no real spine at all.

In Doucouré's absence, Tom Davies looked to have stepped admirably into the breach by grabbing an early goal and had some bright moments in the first half but after Benitez's substitutions, the Blues' mid-section became something of a void as Watford players poured through it on the way to a four-goal assault in the space of 13 minutes. It was an absolute horror show, evocative of some of the worst collapses in a recent club history littered with embarrassing and gutless capitulations.

In terms of the time-worn “Everton, that!” tradition of scripted narratives, this one had it all. Together with King's triumphant return — his opener was his first Premier League goal since finding the net for Bournemouth at Goodison on the final day of the 2019-20 season having, of course, failed to net for the Toffees in the interim — Watford won at Goodison Park for the first time in their history and Juraj Kucka also scored his first goal in the Premier League to deliver Claudio Ranieri his first win as their boss just a week after watching his side get mauled 5-0 by Liverpool.

With so many key players missing, Everton would have been expecting a difficult assignment against the recently-promoted Hornets but they got off to the perfect start. Flying down the left flank, Gordon fed Gray and when he crossed low into the six-yard box, Davies arrived to slide home from close range to score his first goal in over two years in only the third minute.

Seven minutes later, Gordon was involved again, playing a smart one-two pass with Davies before playing in Andros Townsend whose snapshot was parried away by Ben Foster and Gordon could only head wide the resulting cross from Seamus Coleman.

The Toffees' good work was undone, however, by another failure to deal with a set-piece. A free-kick was whipped in from the right near the corner flag, the ball came off Ben Godfrey's head and dropped to King who was free to prod it into the gaping net. Though the goal was initially ruled out for offside, a check by Video Assistant Referee, Martin Atkinson, revealed that Gray's trailing foot had played King on.

Disconcertingly, the goal visibly drained much of the Blues' early belief and it would be while before they rediscovered some of their mojo. Moussa Sissoko tried to punish a poor defensive header from Godfrey but smashed a 25-yard effort wide and Allan had a shot deflected behind at the other end before strong claims for an Everton penalty for a suspected foul on Gordon were waved away by referee, Graham Scott.

Just before the interval, Gray's cross ended at the feet of Gordon in front of goal but his shot was blocked while back at the Gwladys Street end, Kucka hammered a promising opportunity over the crossbar after Michael Keane had given the ball away cheaply.

If Everton needed further warning that Ranieri's side could be dangerous without alert defending, it came in the 58th minute when Ismaila Sarr got around Lucas Digne too easily and centred to King unmarked in the middle but he was foiled superbly by Pickford at point-blank range.

What should have been the turning point of the contest came shortly afterwards when Richarlison, absent for the past few games with a knee injury, came off the bench to score within three minutes of his introduction. The Brazilian ghosted into space to connect with Keane's clipped ball into the box and launched himself to guide a header past Foster and send Goodison into rapture.

With 16 minutes left, Keane could have killed the contest but, crucially as it turned out, planted his header off a free-kick the wrong side of the post and just four minutes later, Watford were level again. Sloppy play by Davies forced Keane to put the ball behind and the resulting delivery found Kucka who bulleted a header past Pickford.

King's second goal turned the game on its head at 3-2, Pickford kept it close after Allan's error was almost punished by Emmanuel Dennis and Kucka headed another good chance over while Digne wasted a good opportunity at the other end when he lashed a wild effort high into the stands off Richarlison's cross.

Any chance of Benitez's charges getting anything from the contest evaporated three minutes from the end of the regulation 90. Hernandez was given the freedom of the flank to cross from the visitors' left, Godfrey failed to clear his lines as three Everton defenders got in each other's way and the ball was poked through to King who side-stepped Keane and slotted past the keeper to make it 4-2.

And Everton's misery was complete in added time as Dennis took advantage of an AWOL defence to stroke home Watford's fifth in front of rapidly emptying seats, a sight that might alarm the hierarchy in the wake of proposed ticket-price hikes for next season.

So, just as a year ago, Everton have seen a flying start to the season massively undercut by injuries to key players and the horrendous recruitment that has left the squad so thin, questionable decisions from a manager whose “honeymoon” is well and truly over, and yet another meltdown by the players. What began as a campaign infused with optimism that the wily, experienced Spanish campaigner could navigate a squad lacking in depth but blessed by sufficient quality when everyone is fit, to an improved final placing on those achieved in recent seasons has been supplanted by fears that the Blues' chief focus should be on getting to 40 points as soon as possible.

Back-to-back defeats at what is supposed to be Fortress Goodison have ratcheted up the pressure on Benitez to quickly find the solutions to his team's inability to consistently defend set-pieces and to plug a large, Doucouré-sized hole in midfield with the winter transfer window still more than two months away.

Having dropped six points from two winnable home fixtures, the manager must now try and pick up a result at improving Wolves before entertaining Tottenham ahead of a daunting run of games against Manchester City, plucky Brentford, Liverpool and Arsenal.

No manager can escape criticism for a 5-2 defeat after letting a 2-1 lead slip so late in proceedings but Evertonians knew once the injury curse bit that they were in for a long grind of a season. Even so, Watford arrived on Merseyside with a reputation as one of the worst sides in the division; Benitez has enough at his disposal to have ground out the win his players were heading for or at least earned a draw. To have been beaten so emphatically means that his result will live long as one of the worst in living memory; the key now is to ensure that the ramifications for the team's form aren't as enduring.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Or a tale of rank incompetence all over the field? Everton gifting Josh King (of all people) a ridiculous hat-trick that materialized immediately after Rafael Benitez had the barefaced audacity to bring on the utterly useless Iwobi, with Everton winning 2-1. You just could not make it up!

Rafa Benitez once again picked Salomon Rondon, despite his shocking ineptitude last week against West Ham Utd, with Richarlison fit again but incredibly not 'risked' in the starting line-up. At least Iwobi had been dropped to the bench, leaving the painful prospect that he will be called upon as a substitute.

No other young surprises on the bench… which is not a surprise as Benitez is clearly averse to trialling other youngsters at this level; he would rather waste another subs spot for a second reserve goalkeeper, with only eight players named on the bench.

Anthony Gordon was full of running from the off and a fine run and pass was picked up by Gray who swung in a great cross for Tom Davies who had sprinted the length of the field to power it over the line from close range. Great start!

It was ragged stuff after that, as Watford tried to redress the balance, and Everton's play was panicked and scrappy but Davies again was strong, this time in defence. But a great sequence of passes, with Gordon pivotal, got Townsend in a firing position but Foster palmed his shot away.

From a Watford free-kick by the corner flag given up by Digne, Josh King scored at the far post but it was initially flagged offside until VAR confirmed that it has been played on by Godfrey.

Another foul by Digne got him a yellow card and Godfrey had to defend the incoming set-piece. Everton tried to break but were not handling the high press very well. Townsend whipped in a great cross that flew over Rondon's head and out behind.

Gordon went on a run but failed to release Townsend open on the wing. Townsend whipped in another good cross but Rondon could only watch it fly past him. Lots of backwards play drew ire from the crowd and forced a put forward to Rondon that was wasted.

Godfrey headed clear but Sissoko took a fierce swipe at it, firing wide as Watford looked altogether sharper and more intent than Everton, who were trying a mixture of approaches Rondon tried a shot that dribbled out for a corner, Davies just failing to connect with it at the far post.

At the other end, Watford were pretty sharp again going forward, a shot deflected wide by Keane and the corner, fortunately volleyed wide by Sarr. Davies looked a bit like James Rodriguez with a pinpoint ball out to Digne who volleyed his cross back in for Rondon but it wasn't accurate enough.

Townsend made a great turn but then overran his cross. Gordon was linking well but refused to take command and it was left for Allan to lash a poor shot well off target that somehow won a corner.

Gordon was fouled as he entered the area but Graham Scott thought he went down a little too easily for a penalty, not awarded. The crowd got even more irritated, as Davies was fouled with no free-kick.

There was another very ragged attack, with Rondon then Davies missing the ball and Watford breaking at speed but Sarr wellying it high and wide. Troost-Ekong challenged Coleman as he tried to take a quick free-kick in the Everton area; Hernandez and Davies squaring up, one Watford player booked.

Another scrappy Everton attack saw the ball almost fall to Gordon but he was denied the time to shoot. That was followed by another wayward shot gifted to Watford at the other end.

The half finished with more horribly scrappy play, an exhibition of formless erratic error-strewn stuff that passed for a pretty poor game of football. Perhaps some would call it 'competitive'...?

No changes as Allan kicked off the second half and a hoof up to Rondon flew out of play. After a spell of neat but purposeless passing, Everton gave up possessions and Watford quickly switched to attack. It really was a rubbish game, but Benitez seemed happy enough. Rondon crossed for Gray but a long way away from him.

Davies was challenged, leading to a nice free-kick chance that came to nothing. A slightly better sequence, again featuring Gordon, almost created something. Gordon went on another run but felt he was clipped. Allan also diving for a penalty, and earning only a yellow card.

The quality of the game had not improved... in fact, it was worse, if that was possible, and you had to wonder if it was something that Richralison improve? Possibly not. Watford produced their best move with King's c;ose-range shot miraculously stopped by Pickford to deny him.

But cometh the hour, cometh Richarlison, with plenty of boos for the impressive Antony Gordon getting yanked instead of the donkey-like Rondon. A free-kick wide right was headed well over by Davies, taking his eye off the ball.

The attack seemed dead when suddenly a wonderful ball returned in by Keane and headed in superbly by Richarlison. At the other end, Pickford had to field a strong shot from Kucka. Richarlison's collapse drew a yellow for Dennis. Then Richarlison's stretching lunge caught Dennis equally slightly and resulted in a yellow card for the Everton man.

Richarlison was falling whenever touched, and Graham Scott was buying it, Keane heading Digne's free-kick just wide. It was still a very difficult watch, such scrappy sloppy stuff. But Everton were ahead with 15 minutes to go. What could go wrong?

How about Alex Iwobi on to replace Demarai Gray? That inspired a sloppy moment from Davies and a corner to Watford, headed home with consummate ease by Kucka. Unbelievable.

Waytford then swe[pt upfield from the restart, King left all alone to wallop it past Pickford one-on-one. I didn't want to see Iwobi but this was just ridiculous. Two goals in 88 seconds.

Could there be any more sloppy nonsense from Everton? Yes, Dennis, so close to scoring but for a fantastic finger-tip save by Pickford and almost a classic repeat by Kucka from the corner, this time over the bar.

Richarlison did well to cross but above Iwobi, and a very poor strike from Digne following in. Then another unbelievable piece of defining allowed Josh King to get his hat-trick. What a completely ridiculous game!

But there was still another ridiculously stupid goal for the Blues to give up through some quite astounding Keystone cops defending. The whole game defies any understanding... But all the lame should be on Benitez fro daring to bring on Iwobi!!! He comes on and Everton give up FOUR goals... Utter madness.

Scorers: Davies (3'), Richarlison (63'); King (13', 80', 86'), Kucka (78'), Dennis (90+1')

Everton:Pickford, Coleman (c), Godfrey, Keane, Digne [Y:17'], Allan [Y:54'], Davies, Townsend, Gray (77' Iwobi), Gordon (60' Richarlison [Y:72']), Rondon [Y:17'].
Subs: Begovic, Lonergan, Kenny, Holgate, Gbamin, Dobbin.

Watford: Foster, Ngakia (76' Nkoulou), Troost-Ekong [Y:44'], Cathcart, Masina, Sissoko, Tufan (64' Pedro), Kucka, Hernandez, Sarr (64' Dennis [Y:70']), King [Y:79'].
Subs: Bachmann, Louza, Cleverley, Sema, Gosling, Fletcher.

Referee: Graham Scott
VAR: Martin Atkinson

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Updated Depleted Everton are at home again this weekend as they entertain recently-promoted Watford and bid to get back to winning ways.

The Blues kept themselves in the Premier League's top five with a win over Norwich and a draw at Manchester United prior to the international break but last weekend's defeat to West Ham dropped them to eighth place and brought into sharp relief the injury problems plaguing Rafael Benitez's squad.

While Seamus Coleman was a welcome returnee at right back, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison were missing once more and their absence was keenly felt as the Hammers grabbed a 1-0 victory thanks to Angelo Ogbonna's second-half header.

Richarlison returned to full training this week and is expected to be in the matchday squad for Saturday's game, most likely as a lone striker, but Calvert-Lewin faces a few more weeks on the sidelines and Everton were rocked by the news that Abdoulaye Doucouré has suffered a foot fracture and Yerry Mina is ruled out with a hamstring complaint.

The Frenchman has been an absolutely vital cog in Benitez's midfield, enjoying his more expansive role under the Spaniard and he will leave a hole in the side that will be difficult to fill.

André Gomes and Fabian Delph, two potential deputies, have been struggling with injuries of their own, as has Jean-Philppe Gbamin who was an unused substitute in the last two matches but it remains to be seen whether his manager feels he is sufficiently match-fit to start.

That leaves Tom Davies as the man who might be charged with sitting in for Doucouré. The 23-year-old hasn't been named in a starting XI since his disappointing outing in the Carabao Cup at QPR last month.

Regardless of who starts in Doucouré's place, it will necessitate a tactical shift to compensate for the loss of the Frenchman's dynamism and legs. While Gbamin has the potential to match Doucouré's all-action profile, he has still only made one Premier League start for Everton since arriving at the club more than two years ago and has not been able to prove he can make it through a 90-minute Premier League contest since recovering from a succession if serious injuries.

At the back, Yerry Mina was expected to be available after sitting out the defeat to West Ham due to his late arrival back from international duty with Colombia but he is being withheld as a precaution after he "felt" his hamstring in training. Out wide, Anthony Gordon could be preferred to Alex Iwobi who gave a poor performance last time out.

Watford come into the weekend sitting in 14th place with seven points from eight games, six more than struggling Norwich and two less than the altogether more impressive Brentford who are currently 10th.

While the Hornets began the season with a rousing victory over Aston Villa at Vicarage Road, their only other win this season has come against Norwich and, perhaps unsurprisingly, given how often they change coaches, they have already sacked their manager.

Xisco Muà±oz was summarily dismissed after Watford lost at Leeds in a game that ended 1-0 to the Yorkshire side but which could have been much more on the basis of how poorly the Hornets played. His replacement, Claudio Ranieri, underwent a baptism by fire against Liverpool last weekend in his first game in charge, seeing his new charges torn apart by Liverpool and losing 5-0.

The Italian has called on the Watford players to show him a reaction when they travel to Goodison Park but Benitez will be hoping that even with his injury troubles, Everton will have plenty to overcome an opposition that has, in recent games, looked well short of Premier League quality.

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 23 October, 2021
Referee: Graham Scott
VAR: Martin Atkinson
Last Time: Everton 1 - 0 Watford

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Mina Godfrey, Keane, Digne, Allan, Davies, Townsend, Gordon, Gray, Richarlison

Lyndon Lloyd

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