Season › 2018-19 › Opinion
Match Reports
Accounts from matches by our editorial team and featured correspondents
Win on 'top six' turf proves elusive but Everton finish campaign in optimistic mood
Lyndon Lloyd : 12/05/2019
The Blues recovered from a poor start and probably should have won which represents progress on the last two clashes with Tottenham.
Blues fail to edge Spurs on final day
Michael Kenrick : 12/05/2019
Everton brought their frustrating 2018-19 season to a close with their first visit to Tottenham's new stadium, where they could not hold on to a brief 2-1 lead.
French Connection
Paul Traill : 04/05/2019
Our current momentum has brought much-needed life back into Goodison Park and smiles on the faces of supporters. Such is our form, it's a shame the season is simmering to a close.
Everton end home campaign having restored Fortress Goodison
Lyndon Lloyd : 04/05/2019
Goodison Park has indeed become a fortress again and this was a pleasingly routine win even if it left you feeling a little unfulfilled at the way Everton eased off the pedal in the second half.
Blues held to disappointing but hugely instructive draw
Lyndon Lloyd : 28/04/2019
While the dominance of the contest was there in combination with another impressive defensive performance, the requisite quality in the final third was not and in that sense, if nothing else, this game was instructive of what Everton still need in terms of additions to the squad if they are to achieve their aims over the next couple of seasons.
Quality the loser in windswept encounter
Michael Kenrick : 27/04/2019
Everton return to London to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park as they look to maintain their push for a 7th-place finish.
High-octane Everton smash Manchester United
Paul Traill : 22/04/2019
We were certainly right at it from the get-go in this one, swarming Manchester United, not letting them settle and getting on the front foot early on. This roused the crowd further and Everton really had Manchester United pressed back with a series of corners early on.
Magnificent Everton serve up Easter misery for United
Lyndon Lloyd : 21/04/2019
Just like the Chelsea and Arsenal results before them, this brilliant victory and the performance that underpinned it should form another piece of the roadmap forward under Marco Silva.
When the Easter sun comes shining through
Michael Kenrick : 21/04/2019
Everton produced a superb performance in their penultimate home game of the season, hammering Manchester United in the Goodison sunshine.
Truly 'Everton, that'
Lyndon Lloyd : 13/04/2019
Everton really are beyond parody at times. Against the second-worst team in the Premier League who had lost nine on the spin and only kept one clean sheet all season, they lost in miserable fashion
Silva has Everton back on track with fourth win in six
Lyndon Lloyd : 07/04/2019
The Blues saw off a third London team in the space of 14 days to register their fourth win in six games with a 1-0 victory over Champions League-chasing Arsenal
Benchmark performance points to a brighter future under Silva
Lyndon Lloyd : 31/03/2019
With the pressure on their collective shoulders easing, Everton are starting to express themselves once again and Silva appears to have found a settled formula that will underpin the push to finish seventh over the remaining six games
Sterling second half effort gets Goodison rocking
Paul Traill : 17/03/2019
Lord knows what Marco Silva said at the break but it sure worked as Everton came out of the traps like they meant business in the second half.
A result to savour despite Everton's continuingly split personality
Lyndon Lloyd : 17/03/2019
Another game of two halves, this time with Everton putting on the show in the second period to record a handsome 2-0 win over Chelsea
Smashed teacups at half-time for rare Blues win
Michael Kenrick : 17/03/2019
An abysmal first half, yet Everton swarmed Chelsea to score early in the second, and Richarlison won a penalty, Sigurdsson scoring after Kepa had saved.
Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde and the Pantomime Villain
Lyndon Lloyd : 09/03/2019
A quintessential game of two halves; wondering where this imaginative and purposeful Everton has been the past three months in the first to cursing the mental fragility and abysmal game management that this Blues team exhibits in the second.
Sloppiness and stupidity in abundance
Michael Kenrick : 09/03/2019
Everton throw away a tremendous two-goal lead through a ridiculous combination of sloppiness from the players and stupidity from manager Marco Silva who hopelessly failed to protect a 2-1 lead.
A Long Time Coming
Sam Hoare : 04/03/2019
What a day! My first time at Goodison Park. Maybe the result wasn't quite what I had dreamed of. But the experience certainly was.
Another 'morale victory'
Lyndon Lloyd : 04/03/2019
The Goodison derby ended goalless for the second season running thanks to some sterling work from the likes of Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane and Everton's shortcomings at the other end
Points even but the Hoodoo remains
Michael Kenrick : 03/03/2019
Everton played well enough to hold Liverpool without major incident, but simply could not score, with effort and determination well in excess of skill and anticipation, both far too lacking at times.
Blues sweep Cardiff aside for welcome win
Lyndon Lloyd : 27/02/2019
Gylfi Sigurdsson enjoyed his first return to South Wales since leaving Swansea for Everton, emerging the victor with two goals and a man-of-the-match display to his credit
A terrible game
Paul Traill : 10/02/2019
I guess The Hornets were swarming all over us once they had an advantage, but I'm not having it that they were better than us. We didn't play well. Actually we were very poor but so too were they.
One more “L” in the results column
Lyndon Lloyd : 09/02/2019
Nine defeats in 14 Premier League matches is relegation form. With 33 points already on the board, only a complete collapse could see Everton under threat of going down this season but when it's hard to see where the next win is going to come from, it doesn't bode well for the manager's continued employment
Toothless loss not helped by Zouma's late madness
Michael Kenrick : 09/02/2019
Everton played well enough in the first half but fell behind in the second half at Vicarage Road
Continuing set-piece failings undermine improved Everton display against City
Lyndon Lloyd : 07/02/2019
Marco Silva got the beginnings of a reaction to Everton's poor recent form but his side remains largely toothless and is still leaking soft goals
All that I asked for
Paul Traill : 07/02/2019
A defeat, but one in which you could at least be proud of the team. The players gave it their all and came up against the best team in the league. You can't ask for more than that, and you really can't say that much about Everton this season
The wolves are at the door for Marco
Paul Traill : 03/02/2019
It really is a wretched time watching Everton. What we have to do to score a goal, compared to what opponents have to do to score against us is laughable. All three of their goals were very preventable, while ours was unstoppable.
“Well, It's Groundhog Day... Again!”
Lyndon Lloyd : 02/02/2019
This is all starting to look horribly familiar.
Black cat underlines Silva's lack of ideas
Michael Kenrick : 02/02/2019
Everton conceded an early penalty at Goodison Park but got back in with a brilliant Gomes effort, only to concede lamely from a stupid free-kick, with a back cat stopping play.
Blues show stomach for the fight
Lyndon Lloyd : 29/01/2019
Everton dragged themselves off the mat with a slender but hard-fought victory at Huddersfield
Silva's first season in tatters as shambolic Blues are dumped out by Millwall
Lyndon Lloyd : 26/01/2019
Two wins from ten in the Premier League has seen the Blues fall irretrievably away from top-six contention and now the 2018-19 season is effectively over before the end of January after an embarrassing FA Cup defeat to Millwall in front of a national audience
Everton furious and out on a terrible goal call
Michael Kenrick : 26/01/2019
Everton were denied a victory, or at least a replay, after Millwall second equalizer went in off Cooper's arm that would have been disallowed with VAR.
Questions at every turn as brittle Blues succumb to spirited Saints
Lyndon Lloyd : 20/01/2019
If you didn't know better, you would have said on this evidence that it was Everton who were the ones haunted by the threat of the drop and had just been through a 120-minute cup tie in midweek
Blues had no answer to Saints' desire
Michael Kenrick : 19/01/2019
Everton had no real answers to the greater energy, stronger desire, and a clearer focus on scoring goals by Southampton under their new manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Lookman impresses as Everton battle to much-needed victory
Lyndon Lloyd : 13/01/2019
An ugly victory that masked some continuing issues but a victory nonetheless which will hopefully inject some confidence into the Blues' veins
Blues win a desperate fractious scrap in the end
Michael Kenrick : 13/01/2019
A last-minute goal from sub Calvert-Lewin made the scoreline much more respectable than they deserved after this feisty fractious encounter that saw five yellow cards for the Blues.
Well I didn”t think it was too bad
Dave Williams : 09/01/2019
A comfortable win I thought, though I was biting my new Christmas gloves when they got the corner in added time.
Stern test from The Imps but we're in the hat
Paul Traill : 06/01/2019
If we were more clinical our passage may have been more comfortable but that for me has been our biggest problem all season
Everton make hard work of despatching League Two Imps
Lyndon Lloyd : 05/01/2019
In the cup, the final score is always paramount but in view of the calibre of the opposition, this should have been a lot more convincing than it was
Blues through unconvincingly after fine start
Michael Kenrick : 05/01/2019
Everton made a brilliant start with two goals inside the first 15 minutes, only to sit back and allow Lincoln to dominate until the break.
Back to Finch Farm
Paul Traill : 01/01/2019
While the performance was by no means good enough, I felt the lads looked fatigued. With so many games so quickly, it lessens the preparation time between games and offers limited time to work on correcting mistakes and trying new ideas.
New Year, Same Old Problems
Lyndon Lloyd : 01/01/2019
If 2019 is to be the year where the latest Everton project begins to bear fruit, there was precious little evidence of it during this dire New Year's Day lunchtime kick-off.
Abysmal New Year fare at sorry Goodison Park
Michael Kenrick : 01/01/2019
Everton put on a terrible display to lose the first game of 2019 on a dismal New Year's Day at Goodison Park.
Erratic Everton continue to infuriate
Lyndon Lloyd : 29/12/2018
This trip to Brighton was every bit as difficult as it promised to be beforehand but too many players aren't producing where it counts and as long as that continues, the more frustrating this season will continue to be
Brighton do a number on profligate Blues
Michael Kenrick : 29/12/2018
Everton forged a number of good chances in a tough first-half at Brighton only to give up a goal to failed zonal marking on a corner.
Determined Blues hit Burnley with a bunch of fives at Turf Moor
Lyndon Lloyd : 26/12/2018
Everton came off the mat swinging after getting floored by Spurs to thrash Burnley and recover some self respect.
Everton bounce back with five
Michael Kenrick : 26/12/2018
Everton produced a fantastic response to Sunday's embarrassment, with three goals inside the first quarter of the game at Turf Moor, ending with five
Spurs deliver savage dose of reality for Silva and Everton
Lyndon Lloyd : 24/12/2018
A miserable reality check that left any notion that Marco Silva's nascent Everton revolution was at the point where it could challenge the top six in tatters for the time being
Embarrassing Blues come gift-wrapped for lethal Spurs
Michael Kenrick : 23/12/2018
Everton took the lead well only to gift four goals to Tottenham in a depressing show of seasonable generosity at Goodison Park
Mission Impossible?
Lyndon Lloyd : 15/12/2018
Manchester City had too much for them in the end but, with better finishing, Everton could have made much more of a contest of this one than they eventually did
City too slick for profligate Everton
Michael Kenrick : 15/12/2018
Everton start brilliantly, squandering a fantastic chance, giving up a poor goal, and then struggling not to be overrun.
Two steps forward, one step back
Lyndon Lloyd : 10/12/2018
Lucas Digne scored a stunner but it failed to gloss over a sub-standard Everton performance that points to more work ahead for Marco Silva
The derby has flattened us
Paul Traill : 11/12/2018
What is the reasoning behind our dip inform these last two games? I blame the Merseyside derby. I think that cruellest of endings has flattened our players and they've gone from buoyant to befuddled.
Fifth straight home win eludes flat and uninspired Everton
Lyndon Lloyd : 06/12/2018
As it was, the spoils were shared and there's no way to look at it from the Everton point of view other than as two points lost in the context of their recent home form and their top-six aspirations.
Another day of derby misery but our time will come
Lyndon Lloyd : 02/12/2018
The tragedy of the final result was that Klopps's side were there for the taking if Everton had just been able to get their act together long enough going forward after the interval
Horrible Pickford error gifts Liverpool in last minute
Michael Kenrick : 02/12/2018
Everton missed two brilliant chances, both headers for Mina and Gomes, in a very competitive first half at Anfield only for Pickford to gift them a goal at the death
Everton find a way to win ugly
Paul Traill : 25/11/2018
It's a game we'd never have won last season, one we may not have in the early parts of this season, and it's great to see a big defensive improvement. When we were so tame defending corner kicks in our first few games, you really felt the rot had set in, but credit to Marco, he must have worked on this and has learnt from this and now, nobody is complaining about zonal marking anymore.
Everton grind out another important win with Sigurdsson's timely strike
Lyndon Lloyd : 24/11/2018
No match is easy in England's top flight anymore but once again Everton got the job done without really getting into anything like top gear
Dogged Cardiff make it hard work for Everton
Michael Kenrick : 24/11/2018
Everton return to Premier League action with a home game against Cardiff this weekend with an unchanged side that started at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago.
Chelsea point represents another step forward for Everton under Silva
Lyndon Lloyd : 11/11/2018
Though things didn't quite come together in the attacking third as the manager would have hoped or the impressively vocal travelling fans might have dreamed this result and the display that underpinned it are evidence of further progress in the Portuguese's nascent tenure
Resilient Everton display ends goalless
Michael Kenrick : 11/11/2018
Everton endured their toughest test to date this season when they stopped Chelsea scoring at Stamford Bridge, but lacked the guile needed to win the game.
Excellent Everton brighten up the day
Paul Traill : 04/11/2018
Everton, especially in the second half, ripped Brighton apart in what was as fine a 45 minutes I've seen from the Blues in some time.
Richarlison dazzles again as Everton cruise to victory over Brighton
Lyndon Lloyd : 03/11/2018
A handsome win and yet you feel there is still quite a bit of unfulfilled potential in this team which is pretty exciting for the future under Marco Silva
Fine brace from Richarlison seals win
Michael Kenrick : 03/11/2018
Three excellent goals, two from Richarlison and one from Coleman, sealed the win over a resistant Seagulls side.
Not your run-of-the-mill Old Trafford defeat
Lyndon Lloyd : 28/10/2018
Ultimately, it was another dispiriting loss at Old Trafford but with enough to keep alive the hope and belief that Everton are moving in the right direction under Silva
Blues fail to really punish the lucky Reds
Michael Kenrick : 28/10/2018
Everton produce an ultimately disappointing display by failing to beat a very beatable Manchester United side on their turf.
Eruption of joy at Goodison Park
Paul Traill : 21/10/2018
With time receding and Everton on the front foot, Lookman picked up the ball at the edge of the penalty area and crossed, Calvert-Lewin, despite Wayne Hennessey getting a hand to it, heading the ball into the net and triggering jubilant scenes in the stands.
Two late subs, two great goals as Pickford saves Blues
Michael Kenrick : 21/10/2018
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cenk Tosun both came on to score late goals as Crystal Palace make it very difficult, Pickford saving a penalty won by Zaha.
Silva's stars begin to align as Everton top Leicester
Lyndon Lloyd : 06/10/2018
It may have taken a world-class goal from Gylfi Sigurdsson but Everton were full value for their first away win under Marco Silva
Everton win away with two fine goals
Michael Kenrick : 06/10/2018
Everton got off to a brilliant start at Leicester with Bernard's trickery setting up a fine finish for Richarlison after just 7 minutes. But the second from Sigurdsson was a worldie.
Why so many changes… EVERY YEAR?
Paul Traill : 02/10/2018
There was a sad inevitability about Theo's spot kick being saved, and it wasn't a great effort. The keeper guessed right and stopped it. As Cedric walked up to take the final penalty I noticed several people already leaving in the Park End. Truth be told, had my seat been nearer the aisle than it is I'd perhaps have done the same. Cedric scoring was as inevitable as Silva making so many changes to the team.
One great half...
Paul Traill : 30/09/2018
Overall, a nice win and an important one. As we have in our last two games, Fulham will rue them missed chances in the first half. The Premier League is unforgiving and if you miss your chances you are usually punished. Let's hope this win can be a catalyst for us to be more clinical with our opportunities moving forward.
Everton make their quality tell to put paid to Fulham
Lyndon Lloyd : 29/09/2018
While far from fully convincing, this was an important result that can provide a catalyst from which to get some forward momentum on the season
Sigurdsson and Tosun finally find the net
Michael Kenrick : 29/09/2018
Sigurdsson finally delivered after missing a penalty but scoring two fine goals, Cenk Tosun getting his first of the season.
Signs of progress amid the gloom of another Emirates defeat
Lyndon Lloyd : 24/09/2018
Ultimately, this was a routine result for this particular fixture in scoreline only and 2-0 was harsh on an Everton team that had done more than enough to earn at least a point
Cech repels fine Everton attacks to steal the points
Michael Kenrick : 23/09/2018
Everton took the game to Arsenal brilliantly in the first half but crucially failed to score, and the inevitable happens in the second half.
Question marks all over the shop
Lyndon Lloyd : 16/09/2018
This was very much a story of contrasting individual stories and it throws up a slew of talking points about just how strong Marco Silva's team actually is and whether the system favoured up to this point — not to mention the personnel within it — has any future
Atrocious result as Everton self-destruct
Michael Kenrick : 16/09/2018
Everton self-destruct with two horrible goals given away in a shockingly awful first-half display against the bottom side.
550 miles for that!!!
Dave Williams : 02/09/2018
Back in the house by 11:15 pm — a very long day and the fact that what I talked about when I got in was meeting Tony Bellew says it all about the football.
Draw ugly
Paul Traill : 02/09/2018
A poor performance, the worst in five games, but we all need to understand that this is going to take a lot of time
Dismal Everton escape with a draw
Michael Kenrick : 01/09/2018
Everton went behind all too easily off another corner but responded immediately through Calvert-Lewin, yet they could not break through again in a dreadful second half.
Plenty of good individual performances
Paul Traill : 30/08/2018
There was enough quality on the pitch to ensure our place in the third round was sealed, thanks to a Gylfi Sigurdsson tap-in and a brace from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Tactical Analysis — Southampton (H)
Steve Ferns : 27/08/2018
So many positives to take from the game, but it was far from perfect. We will be better than this. This is all about progression.
An opportunity missed but some harsh lessons hopefully learned
Lyndon Lloyd : 25/08/2018
Rome wasn't built in a day and Everton won't be rebuilt over the course of a summer, a couple of transfer windows or even a season but this felt like another big missed opportunity nonetheless
Blues squander two-goal lead after ridiculous Richarlison 'head-butt'
Michael Kenrick : 25/08/2018
A crazy game on the south coast, ended in stalemate with a player from each side sent off and Keane stretchered off.
Wolves (away) - A (long and boring) tactical analysis
Steve Ferns : 20/08/2018
After the horror shows in pre-season, it was good to see the old guard perform so well with just the addition of Richarlison and this gives so much hope for the future as the big signings break into the first XI, and everyone gets to grips with Silva's tactics, and his coaching continues to improve players.
Early signs are very positive
Paul Traill : 19/08/2018
A good and deserved win with good football played at times. With our new players still to be integrated, you have to be excited about what we might be able to do this season.
Encouraging signs as Everton earn first win under Silva
Lyndon Lloyd : 18/08/2018
What's really exciting for Evertonians is that, really like the team's performance as a whole, you get the sense there is much, much more to come from Richarlison who already has three goals to his name.
Scintillating football returns to Goodison Park
Michael Kenrick : 18/08/2018
Marco Silva orchestrated a splendid start to his first home Premier League fixture as Everton put two finely worked goals past Southampton.
Richarlison thrills as 10-man Blues are denied victory by Wolves
Lyndon Lloyd : 12/08/2018
It may not have ended up that way in this game but it looks like Everton have a bona fide match-winner in Richarlison. Even better, four of Silva's signings have yet to make their first appearances. It feels like things are just getting started…
10-man Everton forced to settle for opening-day draw
Michael Kenrick : 11/08/2018
Everton's 2018-19 Premier League campaign began with a draw in front of the BT cameras in the late-afternoon kick-off at Molineux against newly-promoted Wolves.
