Match Report

Everton extended their recent run to just one win in six games as they were beaten in fairly comfortable fashion by Leicester City on a flat night under the Goodison Park lights.

Fireworks boomed over the stadium on Guy Fawkes’s Night but there was very little explosive about Frank Lampard’s Blues apart from an early chance that Alex Iwobi will feel he should have buried and another in the second half where goalkeeper Danny Ward did very well to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Instead, a rocket off the boot of Youri Tielemans rewarded the Foxes for their far superior attacking play in the first period on the stroke of half-time and the visitors then punished slack possession play late on seal their victory on the breakaway through Harvey Barnes.

Lampard had made one change to the line-up at Fulham, dropping Anthony Gordon to the bench in favour of Dwight McNeil and electing not to bring Nathan Patterson back in despite the Scot being fit enough to start.

The Toffees’ boss was, no doubt, hoping for a repeat of the stellar display that had brushed Crystal Palace aside in Everton’s last home game but it was Leicester who started the more effective of the two sides, with James Maddison and Patson Daka almost combining in the hosts’ box inside the first minute and Jordan Pickford having to make a one-handed save to deny the striker three minutes after that.

Everton should have scored with less than five minutes gone, however, when Idrissa Gueye out-muscled Boubakary Soumare outside the Leicester area, Calvert-Lewin held off a defender long enough to play Iwobi in on the overlap but with plenty of goal to aim at, the Nigerian swept his shot across goal and inches past the far post.

Maddison would go perilously close on three separate occasions with shots that took decisive nicks off Blues defenders before flying narrowly past the post while James Tarkowski had a header from a corner pushed behind by Ward, Calvert-Lewin saw a strong run end with his shot being charged down at the last and Amadou Onana probably have done better with a free header off another dead ball.

Everton were largely the architects of their own problems in the first half with dreadful distribution at times and poor decision-making trying to play their way out of trouble and an error by Tarkowski in deciding to leave a bouncing ball for Pickford allowed Daka in but the keeper foiled him to bail the defender out.

The home team’s luck ran out at the end of the half, though, when Conor Coady failed to clear the ball from near his own penalty spot, the ball was worked to Tielemans 20 yards from goal and the Belgian took one touch off his thigh before despatching a dipping volley into the top corner.

Lampard withdrew the error-prone Gueye at the break in favour of James Garner and Calvert-Lewin thought he had levelled the contest four minutes into the second half when Iwobi slipped him in beautifully but Ward was quickly off his line and saved with an out-stretched leg.

Unfortunately, it would be the centre-forward’s last chance before he was forced off with what looked to be a recurrence of a hamstring problem. He was replaced by Neal Maupay while Abdoulaye Doucouré came on for Onana but it was Leicester who almost doubled their lead when Maddison drifted easily past McNeil on the hour mark and smashed a shot off the outside of the post.

Maupay’s only look-in came four minutes later when McNeil powered to the byline and the substitute’s effort at the near post was blocked behind for a corner but, depressingly, Everton generally lacked attacking threat during the last quarter of the match.

Patterson came on for Seamus Coleman and Gordon replaced McNeil but the Blues were caught on the counter when a weak pass by Doucouré was easily cut out deep in Leicester’s half and the visitors raced away on the break.

Barnes and Maddison exchanged passes in the final third and the former turned Doucouré in the box before rifling a shot high into the net to make it 2-0 with four minutes of the 90 to go.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton struggled from the very first minute of their final home game before the Premier League goes on hiatus for the 2022 World Cup and it could have been a rout for rampant Leicester City, who ran the entire game. 

Frank Lampard stuck with his current first-choice defence despite Nathan Patterson being ready to come in for Seamus Coleman. However, Gordon sat out the start after his very poor performance last week, with McNeil starting. 

The game started under the Goodison lights with The Foxes kicking off and coming perilously close to scoring in their first attack! Everton tried to get forward but it was the visitors who found huge spaces, Daka scuffing his free shot at Pickford. Everton tried to break out and got a good high press going with Calvert-Lewin setting up Iwobi perfectly who hopelessly shot wide with the goal gaping.

But the visitors were dominating play and controlling the tempo of the game, Maddison playing in a good cross that was screwed wide.  Iwobi tried to play in Calvert-Lewin with a great through ball but it got a heavy touch from Everton’s No 9 and ran away from him through to Ward.

Gray got more involved, switching sides, but he was too selfish with an awful shot high and wide. There was little or no press from Everton as the Foxes continued to set the tone. Coleman broke up an attack but Everton could not keep the ball, which came through to Maddison and he shot inches wide.

Everton showed a little more composure with some better passing until it was lost in the final third, forcing them to drop back. They tried again to play it forward but it kept coming back to Pickford, the slow build-up from the back not working very convincingly, the hoof upfield from Pickford even less so, just conceding possession.  

Leicester attacked again with players streaming into acres of space, Dewsbury-Hall lashing the ball over the Everton goal. Calvert-Lewin played in Iwobi who won a corner that was well-headed goalward by Tarkowski, forcing a fine save from Ward.

There was a big groan when Gueye did what he seems to specialize in, giving the ball away very cheaply in midfield. He then fouled Maddison, setting up a dangerous free-kick that Pickford batted away, before Gray was fouled.

More terrible play out from the back saw Gueye play a horrible ball to Onana, and the Foxes pounced again, causing absolute chaos in the frantic Everton defence, and winning a corner off a dangerous shot.  But nothing really came from it.

Everton were so slow in midfield and being picked off like flies, Iwobi next to be carpet-bagged, setting up another fearsome Leicester attack. The quality of Everton’s play had dropped noticeably from poor to downright abysmal. 
After another spell of poor football, Calvert-Lewin somehow got in a good run but his shot at the end of it was easily blocked.

Everton tried to play it forward again but, yet again, Gueye gave the ball generously to the visitors. Gueye then redeemed himself fractionally by winning the ball back but nothing came of it. Tarkowski was next to gift the ball shockingly to Leicester who surged forward, Maddison’s scuffed shot deflected inches wide. From the corner, Leicester seemed to have another three chances to score but still they somehow failed. 

Everton built something approaching a rare attack that finally saw Coleman force a corner. Onana had it fly directionless off the top of his head and over the bar. From that Daka somehow flashed into the Everton area past everyone and shot at Pickford – the Everton goal leading a remarkably charmed life.

But not for much longer: a better Everton attack saw McNeil set up Iwobi for a good header that came off a defender. The game stopped for a rocket on the pitch! After the restart, Leicester streamed forward again and finally forced the fully deserved breakthrough with a brilliant trademark strike from Tielamans.  

An absolutely shocking half from Everton finished with another erratic attack that saw Onana trying to fashion a shot as he was crowded out. None of the passion and intensity that blew away Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.  Instead, Leicester City should be out of sight. Remarkable that Everton have given up only one goal in the first half. 

Frank had a rare moment of game management clarity, taking off the dreadful Gueye for James Garner for the restart. Everton winning a corner immediately. There were appeals for handball as Leicester responded but it was off Teilmans’s body.

Iwobi did very well to set up Calvert-Lewin for a golden chance but he tried to flick the ball past Ward rather than smashing it into the net, and the keeper saved it with his feet. Daka was gifted another chance but he lashed it high and wide. Everton attacked and Onana was wiped out, but the ref played advantage and the attack failed to create a chance. 

Everton got forward and won a corner that was well delivered by Garner, but too close to Ward, who was fouled by Tarkowski. Garner did exceptionally well to steal the ball but then his cutback was hopeless. 

With Everton attacking, a turnover saw Daka was again fed another long ball to run onto with Pickford ay out of his area, rescued by good work from Mykolenko. Maddison then had a good run in and smacked the ball at the post with Pickford beaten. 

Calvert-Lewin felt something and Maupay immediately replaced him, Doucoure also replacing Onana. McNeil and Maupay tried to force their way through, getting a corner, Garner’s delivery again punched away by Ward. It was worked around until Leicester could break at speed.

Leicester were cutting through the Everton defence but thankfully not getting close enough to score again. Still, the visitors were knocking the ball about with confidence, Everton lacking intensity to force the turnover.

Everton fashioned something of an attack but then two more changes from Frank, who seemed to finally understand the 5-sub rule.  But still Everton could not really influence the game, Leicester continuing to control things and pass the ball around at will.

Patterson tried to play through but lost the ball and Barnes went on a run of his own, shooting tamely at Pickford. Gray tried to run at the packed Leicester defence only to be easily dispossessed and Leicester built yet another dangerous attack that came so close to giving them another goal. 

Into the final 10 minutes and Everton tried another attack and won another corner from Garner that did not beat the first man. Everton tried to work the ball around but it was just not happening. Patterson wasted a chance to cross, overhitting it. 

Leicester moved up and won a corner, that was headed tamely by Faes. Everton once again tried to build something but just went sideways until Tarkowski lofted the ball forward but out of play. Everton moved it around, trying to threaten until the ball was lost by Doucoure and Maddison surged forward, setting up Barnes for the killer blow.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Maupay with a lazy giveaway invited Barnes to stream forward and it needed a vital stop from Pickford to deny Leicester City a third goal that would sadly have been fully deserved. 

What an absolutely abysmal display after Everton had showed what they are capable of against Crystal Palace when they play with desire and intensity.  A massive backward step. 

Everton:  Pickford, Coleman (71’ Patterson), Tarkowski, Coady, Mykolenko, Iwobi, Gana (46’ Garner), Onana  (61’ Doucoure), Gray, McNeil (71’ Gordon), Calvert-Lewin (61’ Maupay).
Subs not Used:  Begovic, Keane, Holgate, Davies.

Leicester City: Ward, Castagne, Amartey, Faes, Justin, Soumare (70' Ndidi), Maddison, Tielemans (90+1' Mendy), Dewsbury-Hall (78' Albrighton), Barnes, Daka (70' Vardy).
Subs not Used: Iheanacho, Perez, Vestergaard, Iversen, Thomas.

Kick-off: 5:30 pm, Saturday 5 November 2022
Referee: David Coote
VAR: Paul Tierney

Michael Kenrick

Well, that was a bit of a hiding

When it’s a Saturday evening kick-off, I like to take advantage of the extra time available in the afternoon and have a mooch around some of the pubs along Dale Street. Katja joined me for afternoon food and drinks, before I made my way to the usual pre-match boozer,

It was nice to take in the ever-developing stadium build on the way, where I was joined by Gary, Sue and Ste. Here, we watched Leeds United incredibly come from 1-3 to win 4-3, and heard the team news that Anthony Gordon had been dropped to give Dwight McNeil an opportunity.

We were in through the turnstile in time for the well-observed period of silence to mark Armistice Day. Everton had won the toss and attacked towards the Park End in the first half in this, the last match at Goodison Park before the enforced World Cup break.

Leicester City started on the front foot though Everton forced a brilliant early opportunity when Idrissa Gueye stole possession high up the pitch and fed it in to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He did brilliantly to hold off a couple of defenders and then play a fantastic ball to Alex Iwobi. Our Nigerian had a golden opportunity but unfortunately, put the ball past the far post. Had that have been scored, then who knows, maybe we’d have seen a different game.

Instead, Leicester City really had a go at us and pretty much dominated, certainly the first half, from thence forth. We were our own worst enemies at times with sloppiness in trying to play the ball out from the back. It’s a risk > reward tactic, I suppose, though Everton failed to head plenty of warnings.

When we got to added time at the end of the first half, you dared to believe we had made it into the break all-square, despite continued heavy pressure from the Foxes. Instead, we defended poorly, Conor Coady the guilty party in this instance with a flapped clearance, that eventually found its way back to the talented Youri Tielemans. He’s very capable from range and showed his class again with a sublime strike that left Jordan Pickford grasping at fresh air. He had no chance.

So we went into the break a goal down, and deservedly so, though frustrated as we had the opportunity to see it out and regroup but fluffed our lines.

Idrissa Gueye, with an injury, was replaced at the break by James Garner. I thought James was impressive and showed good class on the ball. More games ahead for him, I think.

We began the second half much more spirited, though it would have been hard to be less so, and at least got the supporters interested. And we were almost level just 2 minutes into the half when Alex Iwobi threaded through to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose effort on goal was well smothered by Danny Ward. It was a decent chance for Dominic but Danny didn't give him much to aim at.

A criticism often levied at Frank Lampard is his game management and lack of willingness to change the team during a game. He certainly made all his changes in this instance, though to no avail. I'd actually say the changes we made stemmed our flow in the game a fair bit and, the longer the game went on, the more disjointed our play was, and it felt more and more apparent that we weren't going to grab that equalising goal.

Dominic's injury certainly didn't help. He looked as though he really wanted to carry on, and hopefully, as Frank suggests, it isn't a bad injury and we can really utilise the time during the World Cup to get him ready for the post-World Cup part of the season.

Although even the most ardent backer of Dominic must be growingly concerned by this latest setback. Surely it's now unlikely to see him now until Boxing Day and, as if it was needed, it really emphasises our lack of attacking options and requirement to improve in this area in the January transfer window.

It should not have been a surprise to anyone that Leicester City broke away and sealed the game late on. A good swivel by Harvey Barnes and an unstoppable drive finished us off. It was like a boxer knocking out his opponent in the 10th round when they were miles ahead on points anyway. There was only likely to be one outcome by this point and it simply sealed our fate.

We trudged off not long afterwards and reconvened back at The Denbigh Castle where the fellas from The Blue Room had put on a bit of a bash with some very good live music. 'Spirit of the Blues' went down a storm and got everyone going. Evertonians... you just can't beat them, can you?

This was a hiding from Leicester City, make no mistake. Criticism is justified and we should be expecting better, but let's not all lose our heads. This was always going to take time. It was never going to be easy. There were always going to be bumps in the road. This is a Brendan Rogers team which has had him at the helm for 3 years now. Mikel Arteta has been Arsenal manager for 3 years also and look at them now. It hasn't always been plain-sailing for him either.

And this game could have been different. It can be a game of inches, I suppose. Had Alex had put the early chance away, then who knows? If we'd have just edged to the break all-square, then who knows? If Dominic would have put away that early second-half chance, then who knows? It can be fine margins, and though the better team definitely won, these margins impacted this game, make no mistake.

Frank needs time and we need to be patient. Keep the faith, Blues. And I can't believe I'm writing this on 6 November, but – have a great Christmas, Evertonians.

Player ratings:

Jordan Pickford: His distribution was all over the place. I guess you have to take the rough with the smooth with Jordan. For all his brilliance, he can get a bit carried away at times. This was one of them days. 5

Vitalii Mykolenko: One of the better ones out there. Committed as ever. 7

Conor Coady and James Tarkowski: Neither of them were at the races yesterday evening. Just a blip I'm sure. 5

Seamus Coleman: Did okay. 6

Idrissa Gueye: He was having an effective game until he was substituted at the break due to injury. Probably precautionary with the World Cup around the corner. 6

Amadou Onana: Didn't impact the game and was withdrawn on the hour mark, also with a knock, I think. 5

Alex Iwobi: He tried his best but wasn't as effective as he can be. I wonder if teams have figured out a way to contain him better? In which case, we may see James Garner in the team more to give the opposition more to think about. 7

Demarai Gray: Not at his best. 5

Dwight McNeil: Was having a half-decent game and it was a bit of a surprise to most that he was withdrawn instead of Demarai. 6

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: He did okay and his latest injury is another blow make no mistake. With or without Dominic's availability, we'll need more support in attack. All eyes on the Board for the January transfer window. 6

Substitutions:

James Garner (for Idrissa Gueye): I was very impressed. He's a very good standard of player and needs to be in the team. He'll surely get an opportunity at Bournemouth on Tuesday evening and let's see what he can do with it. My Man of the Match. 7

Neal Maupay, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Anthony Gordon and Nathan Patterson (for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Amadou Onana, Dwight McNeil and Seamus Coleman): None of them contributed a lot really. 5

Paul Traill

Match Preview

Everton play their final home game before the Premier League goes on hiatus for the 2022 World Cup and it will be under the lights in L4 as improving Leicester City come to Goodison Park.

The Foxes appeared to be in crisis a few short weeks ago with Brendan Rodgers looking defeated and seemingly on the brink of losing his job following their 6-2 drubbing at the hands of Tottenham at the end of September.

However, a 4-0 hammering of Nottingham Forest to start October, back-to-back wins over Leeds and Wolves later in the month and a creditable performance in defeat to Manchester City last time out have dramatically improved the outlook at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester still occupy one of the three relegation places coming into the weekend but it’s hard to conceive they will be there come the end of the season and no one in the Everton camp will be underestimating Rodgers’s men.

They still boast dangerous players in the form of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans and while Jamie Vardy isn’t as prolific as he used to be, he carries an ever-present goal threat that will keep the Blues’ in-form central defensive pairing of James Tarkowski and Conor Coady focused.

Everton’s defensive options look likely to be boosted by the return to fitness of Yerry Mina after more than two months out through injury while Ben Godfrey is also back full training. The latter is unlikely to feature this weekend but Mina could well be in the matchday squad where he faces an uphill battle to reclaim what used to be an automatic starting role when fit.

The Colombian has long been regarded as the Toffees’ best centre half and while there may still be merit to that assessment, Coady and Tarkowski have struck up such an effective partnership that it seems unthinkable that Frank Lampard might break it up unless forced to. Mina may have to wait until the trip to Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday to get a spot in the starting XI.

One change to the line-up from the one named against Fulham that is expected, however, is Nathan Patterson coming in for Seamus Coleman. The young Scot made his much-anticipated return last week as a second-half substitute at Craven Cottage and is assumed to be fit enough to start for the first time since 18th September.

Otherwise, Lampard could elect to keep faith with the players that played the majority of the impressive win over Crystal Palace and the draw against Fulham.

If Everton can channel that performance against the Eagles, easily their best since the win over Leeds by the same 3-0 scoreline in February, then they should be able to register a second successive home win and put them on the threshold of the top half ahead of their second visit of the week to Bournemouth next weekend.

Leicester have shown themselves to be defensively fallible at various times this season and as long as the defensive and goalkeeping strength that has underpinned their decent showing so far this season continues, the ingredients are there for three home points against the Foxes for the first time in three seasons.

Kick-off: 5.30pm, Saturday 5 November 2022
Referee: David Coote
VAR: Paul Tierney
Last Time: Everton 1 - 1 Leicester City

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gueye, Onana, Iwobi, Gordon, Gray, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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