After three defeats on the bounce, Everton ended the streak with a comprehensive 3-0 win at home to Crystal Palace. A first-half goal for Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave the blues a well-deserved halftime lead but in the second half, Everton stepped up a gear and in the end, blew Palace away with goals from Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil gave Frank Lampard’s side all three points.
After going two games without a shot on target (both away from home) I wondered how long it would be before someone tried an early shot and it was Demarai Gray 9 minutes in testing Guaita from the edge of the box, however moments later and the Palace keeper was collecting the ball out of his net.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin won the ball back from Milivojevic 30 yards from the goal, Iwobi picked up the loose ball and played it into Calvert-Lewin who touched the ball around Marc Guéhi (sending him to the blue dragon) before rolling the ball into the far corner to give the blues a 1-0 lead.
The second goal would have you confusing Everton with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Jordan Pickford started the move with a short pass to Tarkowski and 10 passes later Onana played in Mykolenko whose shot was partially saved by Guaita but Anthony Gordon tapped in for the easiest of goals.
The linesman for some reason put his flag up even though he was a good 2 yards onside. Thank God for VAR right? Straight from the restart and VAR was called upon again after Zaha unnecessarily jumped into the back of Gordon, leading with an elbow, but referee Simon Hooper who had no control of the game brandished Zaha a yellow along with Schlupp, Guéhi and Tarkowski after they all had a handbags moment.
The third goal was also impressive, Dwight McNeil who replaced Gray with just over 10 minutes to go dribbled past three Palace players before playing a one-two with Iwobi who back-heeled his pass to McNeil who slotted the ball home for Everton’s third of the game.
With only three games left before the World Cup break, the players must keep this momentum going and finish the first half of the season in as high a position as possible, with this victory the blues now sit in the top half of the table in 11th place *wink wink*
What did you think of the game?
Let us know your thoughts and how does the song go again?
I’ve never felt more like singing the blues…