MATCH REPORT : EVERTON 3-1 CHELSEA

Only 64 hours since Everton came off the pitch at Anfield on the receiving end of a humiliating 5-2 defeat a lot has changed at Goodison Park. Marco Silva has departed, Everton idol Duncan Ferguson is in temporary charge and on this performance the team looked unrecognisable from what went before. This performance from Everton was built on hard work, resilience and good football, everything that was missing at Anfield three days earlier.

The Blues got off to the perfect start. Only five minutes were registered on the clock when Richarlison gave the home side the lead and the belief they so desperately needed.

Richarlison released Djibril Sidibé down the right and continued his run into the Chelsea penalty area, Sidibe delivered a brilliant cross and Richarlison rose above the Chelsea defence to score with a powerful header. It was a header that Ferguson himself would have been proud of and the giant scot sprinted halfway down the touchline in celebration pumping his fists and delighting the Evertonians in the Family Enclosure.

Everton worked their socks of and that was evidenced by the team finishing with 37 tackles which is the most made by an Everton team in a Premier League game this decade, and the most made by any team so far this season.

Ferguson changed Everton’s formation and some eyebrows were raised when the scot went for a 4-4-2 formation. It was one that gave Everton a better shape and although Chelsea created some good openings in the first half their hesitation in the final third coupled with resolute defending from the hosts, ensured that Jordan Pickford did not have a save to make before the break.

The second half got off to a similar start as the first, with Everton flying out of the traps again. This high pressure start forced Chelsea into more mistakes and Everton duly punished them and increased their lead through the highly impressive Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Everton pressed Chelsea high and forced former Everton loanee Kurt Zouma to slice a clearance up into the air on the edge of his box, Calvert-Lewin then beat Andreas Christensen in an aerial challenge and bundled his way past Zouma and beat Chelsea Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with a fine finish into the bottom corner of the net.  Goodison Park went wild and Ferguson celebrated this time by picking up the nearest ball boy and swinging him around in circles.

Chelsea responded almost immediately and after some good possession they got themselves back into the game. César Azpilicueta crossed from the left hand side and Lucas Digne cleared the ball to the edge of the where Mateo Kovacic was arriving and he sidefooted an outstanding first-time volley into the back of Pickford’s net.

The visitors then put Everton under more pressure and the hosts needed Pickford to tip over from Azpilicueta to protect their lead. Everton could have increased their lead on a couple of occasions most notably through Theo Walcott but he couldn’t beat Arrizabalaga when he broke through.

Everton did however secure the victory when Walcott took advantage of a poor clearance by Arrizabalaga. Calvert-Lewin released Tom Davies inside the area he turned past one player but then ran into another but Calvert-Lewin was on hand to slide the ball into the Gwladys Street net to secure the victory.

Goodison Park erupted into wild celebrations and Ferguson swung a different ball boy in the air this time before hugging Calvert-Lewin. What a day for Duncan Ferguson who showed people that he is not only the cone manager but a very good coach, if this is to be a one game gig then Ferguson can hold his head up high and be proud. He gave Everton back to the fans today with a hard working performance after three consecutive defeats under the previous regime. He could not have dreamt it any better than this.

How they lined up : 

Barry Cass