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Tag: Everton

  • Maja double gives lowly Fulham 2-0 win at Everton

    Maja double gives lowly Fulham 2-0 win at Everton

    Fulham’s Nigerian striker Josh Maja scored his first two goals for the club to secure a 2-0 win at Everton on Sunday.

    This was as the visitors ended a 12-game English Premier League (EPL) run without a win and rekindled their hopes of avoiding relegation.

    The result left Fulham 18th on 18 points from 23 games, seven behind 17th-placed Newcastle United, while Everton stayed seventh on 37 from 22 after another lacklustre home performance.

    Everton’s poor league form continued as they suffered a third home defeat in four games, while Fulham won at Goodison Park for the first time after 22 successive defeats with Maja netting a brace in his first start for the Cottagers.

    The visitors missed a hatful of first-half chances before former Sunderland striker Maja, who is on loan from French side Girondins Bordeaux, slid in to steer home Ola Aina’s fizzing low cross in the 48th minute.

    He made it 2-0 in the 65th with another predator’s finish, popping up in front of goalkeeper Robin Olsen to tap in a rebound from close range after Harrison Reed hit the post with a long-range effort.

    Everton striker Josh King had a goal disallowed for offside in the closing stages which summed up the Toffees’ miserable evening as they failed to create anything meaningful up front.

  • Man United concedes in stoppage time, draws with Everton 3-3

    Man United concedes in stoppage time, draws with Everton 3-3

    Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalized in the fifth minute of stoppage time for Everton to draw 3-3 at Manchester United, which squandered a chance to move level on points with first-placed Manchester City in the English Premier League on Saturday.

    It looked like a goalkeeper error by Robin Olsen, who let a header from Scott McTominay squirm past him in the 70th minute, would gift United a victory at Old Trafford.

    However, in the last play of the game, a free kick from Lucas Digne was glanced on and Calvert-Lewin controlled the ball before prodding it past David De Gea.

    United is two points behind City, which has two games in hand — the first coming on Sunday at Liverpool.

    United led 2-0 at halftime thanks to Edinson Cavani’s header and a nonchalant strike by Bruno Fernandes, who floated a long-range shot over Olsen and into the corner after producing a dummy to create some space outside the area.

    Everton responded with two goals in a four-minute span early in the second half, through Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez.

    Calvert-Lewin’s goal marked a remarkable end to a night that started with both sides paying their respects on the 63rd anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

    It ended in a scoreline that brought back memories of a 4-4 draw between United and Everton at Old Trafford in 2012 that helped City win the league that season.

    “We played some good football in the second half but conceded three goals from three shots on target. When you do that it is disappointing,” said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose team has conceded 30 goals — the highest number in the league’s top 10.

    “We reacted well after their two goals but then why was there four minutes added in? We had to get the ball in the corner and see it out. Poor goals to concede.”

    Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said it felt “like a win.”

    “We competed against one of the best in the Premier League,” he said. “We are not at the same level but we can fight and compete with our qualities. I am proud of my team.”

  • Ancelotti tasks Iwobi, others as Everton battle Man United (See weekend fixtures)

    Ancelotti tasks Iwobi, others as Everton battle Man United (See weekend fixtures)

    Carlo Ancelotti says Everton will revise their approach to tackling Manchester United for Saturday’s Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.

    Everton visit United aiming for a fifth straight away victory – and eighth from 11 league games on the road.

     

    The meeting with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team, perhaps, represents Everton’s toughest away test yet, however.

    United have twice won at Goodison Park this season – a league match in November and the following month’s Carabao Cup quarter-final – and are fresh from toppling Southampton 9-0 on Tuesday.

    Everton manager Ancelotti insists his ploy for the weekend – when the Italian will continue his rotation policy after both James Rodriguez and Michael Keane were rested for Wednesday’s win at Leeds United – is designed to make life for the hosts as awkward as possible.

    “We played two games against Manchester United at home and lost both,” said Ancelotti.

    “There is something we have to change, for sure.

    “If we follow the same way we played [in the Goodison games], we are going to lose.

    “We tried to plan a different strategy and we will see how it works.

    “The mental aspect is really important but we have to practically try to do something different – to create more problems than in the past games we played against them.

    “United is a fantastic team, with a good mix between experience and talented young players.

    “The players know it will be difficult but I hope it will be difficult for United to play against us.

    “I am going to rotate other players, this is a normal way I have to manage my squad.

    “To avoid injury and to give more motivation to others.”

    Ancelotti stopped short of giving away details about his team selection – save for confirming Robin Olsen will retain his place in goal in the absence of Jordan Pickford, who is nursing an abdomen problem.

    EPL FIXTURES

    Saturday

    Aston Villa Vs Arsenal (1:30pm)
    Burnley vs Brighton & Hove Albion (4:00pm)
    Newscastle United vs Southampton (4:00pm)
    Fulham vs West Ham United (6:30pm)
    Manchester United vs Everton (9:00pm)

    Sunday

    Tottenham Hotspur vs West Bromwich Albion (1:00pm)
    Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Leicester City (3:00pm)
    Liverpool vs Manchester City (5:30pm)
    Sheffield United vs Chelsea (8:15pm)

    Monday
    Leeds United vs Crystal Palace (9:00pm)

  • Man City Move Four Points Clear, Newcastle Lift Pressure On Bruce

    Man City Move Four Points Clear, Newcastle Lift Pressure On Bruce

    Manchester City opened up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, while Everton’s bid for a top-four finish was dented by a shock home defeat by Newcastle.

    Gabriel Jesus scored the only goal inside the first 10 minutes at the Etihad as City extended their winning run to 12 games in all competitions.

    Pep Guardiola’s men thrashed West Brom 5-0 in midweek, but after beating Manchester United away on Wednesday, the Blades again belied their lowly position to put up a fight against the leaders.

    Ferran Torres and Jesus were two of five changes made by Guardiola and they combined to make the breakthrough as the Brazilian tapped home for his first Premier League goal since November.

    City failed to build on the lead, but comfortably held out for a 15th clean sheet in their last 19 games to pull clear of second-placed Manchester United, who visit Arsenal later on Saturday.

    At the other end of the table, Newcastle were the big winners of the day as they pulled clear of the drop zone with a first win in 12 games, while two of the bottom three West Brom and Fulham played out a 2-2 draw.

    Magpies manager Steve Bruce’s future was under the spotlight after a wretched run that plunged his side into the relegation dogfight.

    But Callum Wilson scored twice in the final 17 minutes to earn a deserved 2-0 victory at Goodison Park on a bad day for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

    Everton could have moved to within a point of local rivals Liverpool in fourth with a win, but rarely looked like scoring and were finally punished for a poor performance when Wilson lost his marker at a Jonjo Shelvey corner and looped a header across Jordan Pickford and inside the far upright.

    Wilson was then denied by the post after rounding Pickford, but the former Bournemouth striker made no mistake when Newcastle countered quickly in stoppage time.

    Bruce’s men are now eight points clear of the relegation zone after a point each did little for West Brom or Fulham’s battle to beat the drop.

    The visitors were dominant in the first half at the Hawthorns and were made to regret not building on Bobby Decordova-Reid’s opener.

  • I was wrong not to send off Pickford for Van Dijk challenge, referee admits

    I was wrong not to send off Pickford for Van Dijk challenge, referee admits

    Premier League ref Michael Oliver admits he was wrong not to send off Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for his challenge on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk earlier this season.

    Van Dijk’s season was cut short by the incident, as he was forced to undergo knee surgery.

    Oliver is quoted by the Liverpool Echo: “It was a big game, both teams were flying in.

    “The assistant had given offside and there is a delay in the flag, as we had this season. Jordan then comes out to Virgil.

    “The thought initially was ‘it can’t be a penalty because it’s offside so we need to check the offside first’. I think I said to the VAR ‘if it’s not offside, I’m going to give a penalty’.

    “I have watched it back so many times. I genuinely don’t think Pickford has done anything apart from try to spread himself but he did it in the wrong way, as the injury shows.

    “We have all, myself included, not thought about the challenge as much as we should have done.

    “We could still have given offside and sent Pickford off. What I was surprised about looking at it afterwards was that nothing was expected on-field in terms of a red card. None of the players were asking for that.”

  • Sami Khedira in England for Everton, Tottenham talks

    Sami Khedira in England for Everton, Tottenham talks

    Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira is in England today for Premier League talks.

    Khedira is set to discuss terms with Everton, reports BILD, but Tottenham are also keen.

    The veteran has been told by Juve he’s free to leave Turin this month and he’s flown to England to secure a Premier League move.

    Along with Everton and Spurs, Khedira is also keen to speak with other teams.

    The 33 year-old hasn’t played for Juve this season.

  • EPL move would be icing on cake – Khedira

    EPL move would be icing on cake – Khedira

    Departing Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira admits he’s eager to move to England.

    Khedira has been linked with Everton ahead of the winter market.

    He still feels he has plenty to offer having won five Serie A titles since joining Juventus from Real Madrid in 2015.

    He told the Athletic: “The Premier League is still missing in my collection, to play there would be the icing on the cake. I’ve done extra sessions with fitness coaches to get myself ready for the pace and intensity.”

    On Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, who he worked with at Real Madrid Khedira added: “We’ve kept in contact over the years. Him and Jose (Mourinho) are both amazing personalities from whom I’ve learned so much, about the game and about myself.

    “They’re both at clubs that play an important role in the league. So let’s see what happens.”

  • Khedira seeks Juve permission to fly to England

    Khedira seeks Juve permission to fly to England

    Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira is expected on Merseyside by the end of the week.

    Off contract in June, Khedira is a confirmed target for Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, having played for the Italian with Real Madrid.

    Juve are eager to clear Khedira off the books and have granted the veteran permission to fly to England this week, says Gazzetta dello Sport.

    The Bianconeri are expected to grant Khedira a free transfer if he can settle on terms with the Toffees.

    The 33 year-old is fit, but hasn’t played first team football this season.

  • BREAKING: Man City match against Everton postponed

    BREAKING: Man City match against Everton postponed

    Following a Premier League Board Meeting on Monday afternoon, the match between Everton and Manchester City has been postponed.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the fixture that is supposed to hold this evening was postponed on medical grounds due to an increase in cases of COVID-19 in the Manchester City squad.

    Supporters who were successful in getting match tickets for the fixture have been advised not to travel to the stadium.

    An alternative date and kick off time was yet to be decided but will be confirmed as soon as possible.

    Meanwhile, according to a statement on City’s website, after a latest round of Covid-19 testing, City returned a number of positive cases, in addition to the four already reported on Christmas Day.

    With the security of the bubble compromised, there posed a risk that the virus could spread further amongst the squad, the staff and potentially beyond.

    Based on strong medical advice the Premier League, in consultation with both clubs, have decided to postpone the fixture.

    All positive cases involving players and staff will observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine.

  • Ancelotti insists ‘no regrets’ after Man Utd defeat

    Ancelotti insists ‘no regrets’ after Man Utd defeat

    Everton manager Carlo Anceloti says his team have no regrets about how they played against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.

    The Toffees went into the fixture off the back of several impressive Premier League results against top opposition.

    However, they were meek and excessively defensive against United, and only attacked with vigor in stoppage time after conceding a late goal thanks to Edinson Cavani.

    The Toffees bow out at the quarter final stage, while United booked a semi final with Manchester City.

    “We are disappointed, of course, it was an important competition for us,” said manager Ancelotti.

    “But there are no regrets with the performance.

    “It was a good performance, we defended well, properly.

    “We had a difficult start but after 20 minutes the game was under control.

    “We didn’t play attacking football but we needed to defend and until the last three minutes we defended well.

    “We were good defensively until the end and were close to penalties.

    “They had more control and quality, we know this.

    “The plan was to defend well and we did, we had some opportunities with set-pieces and counter-attacks.

    “That was the game we planned.”