Season 2020-21 Opinion Match Reports
Match Reports
Accounts from matches by our editorial team and featured correspondents
An Ignominious End to a Failed Campaign
Lyndon Lloyd : 23/05/2021
This was less Black Watch and more the death watch as the last breaths were extinguished from European-qualification hopes that had been on life support for a few weeks and effectively died a week ago with that horrible defeat to Sheffield United
Cannon fodder for the ebullient Champions
Michael Kenrick : 23/05/2021
Everton went into the final match of the 2020-21 season with European football supposedly still within their grasp but ended up providing limp cannon fodder for the ebullient Champions amidst a rampant farewell to Sergio Agüero.
That Goodison Roar
Paul Traill : 20/05/2021
"It was a wonderful experience to return to Goodison Park with Evertonians. It's amazing what noise 6,500 can make and I can’t wait to hear that Goodison roar from 40,000 Evertonians in around 86 days' time."
It's not home without Everton fans
Lyndon Lloyd : 19/05/2021
Confidence and belief are vital ingredients in football. So, too, are home supporters and nowhere does that seem to be more true than at Goodison Park
Blues hold on for an unconvincing win in front of the fans
Michael Kenrick : 19/05/2021
In front of 6,500 fans, Everton finally ground out a win at Goodison Park, thanks to a fine header from Richarlison off a fine Sigurdsson corner.
Season Appears Over for Embarrassing Everton
Lyndon Lloyd : 16/05/2021
When you look back on it, there was a horrible inevitability about this result; the kind of predictability that makes you faintly embarrassed to have instilled any faith that it might have ended differently
Just when you thought it couldn't possibly get any worse
Michael Kenrick : 16/05/2021
Everton inexplicably lost their penultimate home match to bottom dwellers Sheffield United in another atrocious display that plumbed the depths of incomprehension.
Europe Slipping from Everton's Grasp
Lyndon Lloyd : 13/05/2021
Is there an opposite to ‘The School of Science’? Everton seem to be trying to answer this question with a succession of tedious displays in their waning quest for Europe
Dismal draw sees more precious points trickle away
Michael Kenrick : 13/05/2021
With their European hopes very much alive following their narrow victory at West Ham on Sunday, Everton are on the road again as they travel to Aston Villa looking for what would be a club record-equalling 12th away win of the season
It's Still There If They Want It
Lyndon Lloyd : 09/05/2021
Just when you think you’re done with them, they pull you back in, eh? Thanks to one more of those dogged and disciplined performances away from home, Everton are firmly back in the hunt for Europe
Another Ancelotti away masterclass as he takes Moyes to school
Michael Kenrick : 09/05/2021
Calvert-Lewin secured a very well-taken goal for Everton in a good first half at the London Stadium against West Ham.
A Colossal Waste of a Gilt-Edged Opportunity
Lyndon Lloyd : 02/05/2021
From the players to the manager
Serial incompetence in front of goal sees another shocking home loss
Michael Kenrick : 01/05/2021
Everton were back at Goodison Park this evening, exposing a maddening panoply of incomprehensible inadequacies as they once again failed painfully to press their claims for European qualification.
Farcical goal seals undeserved historic win for Carlo Fantastico
Michael Kenrick : 23/04/2021
Everton return to action on Friday evening with a brilliant win at Arsenal – their first for 25 years!
Everton find their fight but shoot themselves in the foot
Lyndon Lloyd : 16/04/2021
It was cruel on the Blues because this was almost everything that many of their recent home displays weren't. They were were energetic, purposeful and stylish at times but crucial errors at the back cost them dear
Everton blow more points with goals gifted to Kane
Michael Kenrick : 16/04/2021
Everton are without top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a second successive game as they face a crucial Premier League clash with Tottenham on Friday night
Guileless and Goalless
Lyndon Lloyd : 12/04/2021
Brighton will feel they should have won based on the pattern of play. For Everton, just desperately disappointing overall and worryingly threadbare in terms of personnel, the European dream is fading
Injury-decimated Blues see out goalless bore-draw
Michael Kenrick : 12/04/2021
Everton gave us yet another lack-lustre performance at Brighton, this time with the excuse of many players out injured, but points continue to slip away...
Everton squander more points in the agonizing slog for European football
Michael Kenrick : 05/04/2021
After an utterly dreadful first half of incredible missed chances, Rodriguez gave Everton the win they needed... until Palace sub Batshuayi equalized.
Sloppy moments cost Everton dearly as they lose at home yet again
Michael Kenrick : 13/03/2021
Everton lost to Burnley at Goodison Park in another one of these games against lower opposition that should have been a home banker. But there are no such games in this crazy Covid season – at least not for Everton
A Tough Ask and an Unsurprising Outcome
Lyndon Lloyd : 08/03/2021
This was always going to be a tall order and, ultimately, it felt like a stretch too far for the players. In that context, the result wasn’t the end of the world; it’s the run of four games coming up that will be more important
Everton can't lay a glove on a Chelsea side in full control
Michael Kenrick : 08/03/2021
Without James Rodriguez out for a third successive game with a calf injury, and Doucouré rumoured to be out for the season, Everton had nothing meaningful to offer against a dominant Chelsea side.
Razor-Thin Margins But Ancelotti's Men Forge On
Lyndon Lloyd : 04/03/2021
In terms of statistics, almost nothing separated these two sides at opposite ends of the table but once again Everton ground out a win with maximum efficiency thanks to a Richarlison winner and a key Jordan Pickford save
Blues grind out another low-key away win
Michael Kenrick : 04/03/2021
Everton ground out another low-key away win at West Brom thanks to a great header by Richarlison for his 4th goal in 4 games after Sigurdsson came on.
Not that pretty but ultimately effective
Lyndon Lloyd : 01/03/2021
From an entertainment perspective, this game won’t live long in the memory at all but if the result does indeed end up being the catalyst that turns around the Blues’ home form and helps propel them into Europe, Evertonians may look back on it as a vital game in the season.
Blues finally win at home thanks to Richarlison
Michael Kenrick : 01/03/2021
Everton return to Premier League action tonight when they take on Southampton at Goodison Park, with Calvert-Lewin back in the starting line-up.
It's Finally Over!
Lyndon Lloyd : 20/02/2021
This time it was different. It’s finally bloody over. 21 years and five months since Everton last won at Anfield, the most depressing sequence of results in the club’s 143-year history was shattered as Carlo Ancelotti’s team beat Liverpool 2-0
Everton finally beat Liverpool at Anfield
Michael Kenrick : 20/02/2021
After years of unmitigated disappointment and depression in derby games, Everton finally win one, at Anfield, against the fading Champions, much to the credit and delight of manager Carlo Ancelotti.
A Depressing Gulf in Class
Lyndon Lloyd : 17/02/2021
Guardiola’s side are pretty irresistible when they’re at their best but even in second or third gear they were too much for the Toffees who have a long way to go in terms of quality and sheer footballing ability before they can even hope to match them.
City's unrelenting quality and workrate win out
Michael Kenrick : 17/02/2021
Everton started without Allan and Dominic Calvert-Lewin and played reasonably well but were no match for the quality and workrate of the Champions elect
Just Dire
Lyndon Lloyd : 14/02/2021
The sense after the cup win over Tottenham was that, perhaps, Carlo Ancelotti’s gradual shift in the mentality of this squad had finally reached a tipping point where the psychological block of “Everton, that” might finally be consigned to history. But, no — collectively, this group of players remains prone to shooting itself in the foot. Champions League? For now, you’re definitely having a laugh.
Lifeless Everton seemed totally uninterested
Michael Kenrick : 14/02/2021
A dreadful performance by Everton completely lacking in desire or intensity saw them lose a league game at home to Fulham for the first time ever
Everton dig deep to vanquish Spurs in nine-goal Goodison thriller
Lyndon Lloyd : 10/02/2021
A sumptuous goal by Bernard settled this sprawling odyssey of a cup tie in extra-time with Everton triumphing over Tottenham by a score of 5-4
Everton finally prevail in classic FA Cup ding-dong goalfest
Michael Kenrick : 10/02/2021
Everton and Tottenham went head-to-head in a real ding-dong FA Cup tie at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening in the FA Cup Fifth Round, 4-4 going into Extra Time.
When a Draw Feels Like a Win
Lyndon Lloyd : 06/02/2021
Sometimes, it’s all about taking your chances. It's also about tempo, belief and courage, qualities that are going to be vital if Carlo Ancelotti’s team is to achieve its European dream this season
Blues steal a dramatic draw with the last kick
Michael Kenrick : 06/02/2021
Everton take their excellent record away from home to Old Trafford where they have only won twice in the Premier League era when they face title-chasing Manchester United.
Life on the road continues to suit erratic Everton
Lyndon Lloyd : 03/02/2021
Everton held on through the second half to ensure they beat Leeds at Elland Road for only the second time in 40 years as goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were enough to earn the points
Everton hold on for a great win at Elland Road
Michael Kenrick : 03/02/2021
Everton held on through a second-half onslaught from Leeds after going into what should have been a commanding 2-goal lead in the first half.
Insipid Blues never really got going against belligerent Barcodes
Michael Kenrick : 30/01/2021
Everton are back at Goodison Park to face Newcastle United in today's lunchtime game as they look to get back to winning ways by atoning for what was one of the season’s most disappointing results in the reverse fixture in early November.
James strikes a beauty but Everton otherwise disappoint
Lyndon Lloyd : 27/01/2021
This was a potentially massive game for Everton, one in which a win would have been another “statement” result but the Blues often lacked fluidity and cohesion going forward
Defensive gameplan surrenders two vital points
Michael Kenrick : 27/01/2021
A game plan that required Everton to hold onto an early lead from the brilliant Rodriguez was destined never to work against a strong Leicester side.
James the Maestro Sets the Tone for Handsome Everton Win
Lyndon Lloyd : 24/01/2021
The Colombian looked right at home on a frigid Merseyside night against lower-division opposition, putting in an excellent display as the Toffees beat Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup Fourth Round
James Rodriguez inspires a fine Everton win
Michael Kenrick : 24/01/2021
Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoriing with a fine goal against Sheffield Wednesday, two excellent corners from James Rodriguez making the winning goals.
Ancelotti employs a very different attacking masterplan
Lyndon Lloyd : 13/01/2021
Shorn of Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison from the starting XI and with Ancelotti opting to leave Tosun on the bench, this called for a more fluid and considered type of performance and the Blues came through with an unexpected victory
Strikerless masterclass as The Don schools Nuno Espirito Santo
Michael Kenrick : 12/01/2021
Everton returned to Premier League action this evening with a very important win for a weakened team at Molineux over one of their rivals for European qualification in the form of Wolves.
Quality rescues Everton from complacency
Lyndon Lloyd : 09/01/2021
The 70 minutes that preceded extra-time in this tie were pretty grim but James Rodriguez and Abdoulaye Doucouré combined to send the Blues through against Rotherham
Everton scrape through in extra time
Michael Kenrick : 09/01/2021
Everton’s FA Cup campaign begin in laboured fashion this weekend with a home tie against Championship side Rotherham United at Goodison Park which dragged on into extra time before the Blues finally won it.
Another New Year’s Day Hangover
Lyndon Lloyd : 01/01/2021
Having won four straight and with the chance to pull within one point of the top of the table, Everton go and lose at home to a David Moyes team for the first time. It’s absolutely maddening and it also didn’t help that it was New Year’s Day — the Blues have now lost their last five matches played on the first of the year
Moyes wins battle of the master defenders
Michael Kenrick : 01/01/2021
With both sides set on defending to the end, it took something of a freak goal for David Moyes to sneak his first win as a visiting manager.
Depleted but not to be denied
Lyndon Lloyd : 26/12/2020
There were plenty of “Everton, that” omens about this game just waiting to trip to the Toffees up but they negotiated them all and won their fourth successive League game
Blues do enough to secure the win
Michael Kenrick : 26/12/2020
Everton look to recover from the disappointment of Wednesday's cup defeat to Manchester United by advancing their claims for European qualification with victory at Sheffield United.
Cup dreams crash headlong into brutal reality
Lyndon Lloyd : 25/12/2020
While the result was depressing, it wasn't entirely unexpected and merely underscored the work that is still required to get this squad strong enough to compete for honours.
Everton defence finally crumbles in abysmal cup exit
Michael Kenrick : 23/12/2020
It's a big night at Goodison Park as Everton take on Manchester United in the last quarter-final of the Carabao Cup.
Efficiency and Resilience
Lyndon Lloyd : 19/12/2020
The performance may have betrayed some fatigue and a lack of depth of quality in midfield but Carlo Ancelotti will be toasting a third victory on the spin as his defence dug in to shut Arsenal out in the second half
Everton scrape a narrow win over tricky Arsenal
Michael Kenrick : 19/12/2020
Everton were back at Goodison Park to complete a narrow win over struggling Arsenal, taking them back up to 2nd in the Premier League table.
Another tactical success has Everton looking up once again
Lyndon Lloyd : 16/12/2020
Two games against teams sitting in the top four with aspirations of moving back to the top of the table, two wins, and six valuable points – the complexion of Everton’s season has changed again
Tremendous solidity underlies fine Everton win
Michael Kenrick : 16/12/2020
Everton took the lead against Leicester thanks to an excellent opportunist strike from Richarlison.
Blues gut it out to claim important Chelsea scalp
Lyndon Lloyd : 12/12/2020
Gylfi Sigurdsson and Ben Godfrey shone in an all-round impressive team performance that saw Chelsea's much-vaunted attack shut down at Goodison Park
Fans inspire solid Blues defence of Sigurdsson's penalty
Michael Kenrick : 12/12/2020
Carlo Ancelotti faces his old team as manager of the Blues at Goodison Park with 2,000 fans allowed to attend for the first time since the start of the coronavirus lockdown in March
Round pegs, square holes and a general lack of desire
Lyndon Lloyd : 05/12/2020
Carlo Ancelotti's selection decisions continue to mystify but are his players also taking too much of a cue from the manager's laid-back air?
Boring Winter Snoozefest as Blues spurn important win
Michael Kenrick : 05/12/2020
Everton travel up the road to Burnley this lunchtime looking to rebound from the defeat to Leeds last time out and keep pace with the pack of clubs above them in the Premier League table.
Muddled and Unconvincing
Lyndon Lloyd : 30/11/2020
Individually, Leeds aren't any great shakes but they're superbly coached. Everton are a team of individuals with questionable fitness, playing on this occasion in a dubious lineup who lacked conviction and that clinical edge
Everton hang on as they almost let Fulham back in
Michael Kenrick : 22/11/2020
Everton stormed into an early lead to get their Premier League campaign back on the rails following three straight defeats that wrecked their 100% start to the season.
Spirit Crushed
Lyndon Lloyd : 08/11/2020
Everton go into the latest international break without a win in four games and having to pick the pieces up following three straight defeats, with very little to draw from any of them by way of optimism
A spineless surrender to Ole's under-fire Reds
Michael Kenrick : 07/11/2020
Everton were back at Goodison Park after successive fixtures on the road to host Manchester United and their under-fire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the early Saturday kick-off. But, despite leading through a nice Bernard goal, the absence of Richarlison was a crucial factor in the end.
Dire Blues can't escape the ghosts of Everton past
Lyndon Lloyd : 01/11/2020
This was Marco Silva’s Everton and the worst of “Project Restart” reborn… from the team that began this round of matches sitting on top of the table.
Everton given bracing reality check as Saints burst early-season bubble
Lyndon Lloyd : 25/10/2020
Richarlison’s unnecessary sending off against Liverpool last week felt like it was going to be costly and, in combination with the loss to injury of Seamus Coleman and fitness concerns over James Rodriguez, that proved to be the case as the Toffees put in their worst performance since the final day of last season
Ponderous green-shirted dross of old too easily defeated
Michael Kenrick : 25/10/2020
An Everton side well below par, wearing a hideous green and grey kit, rocked up at Saint Mary's seemingly determined to surrender all the good work so far this season
The Loosening of the Devil's Red Pact
Lyndon Lloyd : 17/10/2020
Despite being well below the best of what they’ve shown this season and never seeming to get out of second gear, Everton managed to grab a draw against what Klopp described as his side’s best away performance of his tenure, even it needed an intervention from VAR in the final reckoning.
VAR saves off-colour Blues after Richarlison madness
Michael Kenrick : 17/10/2020
Exactly 10 years to the day since their last Merseyside derby victory, Premier League leaders Everton face local rivals Liverpool at Goodison Park with a full-strength side looking to extend their 100% start to the season.
Everton press on with another goal glut
Lyndon Lloyd : 03/10/2020
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and James will have grabbed the headlines but this was another game that featured strong performances in almost every part of the team
Brilliant James is the star of Everton's 4th win
Michael Kenrick : 03/10/2020
Everton took on a very lively Brighton side at Goodison Park but Calvert-Lewin set them on their way with a fine far-post header for his 9th goal
A second Calvert-Lewin hat-trick seals Blues win
Michael Kenrick : 30/09/2020
Everton’s Carabao Cup journey continued with their most difficult assignment in the competition thus far in 2020-21 as West Ham United come to Goodison Park.
Everton Show Grit to Maintain Winning Start to 2020-21
Lyndon Lloyd : 26/09/2020
The decision for the penalty that ultimately proved to be the difference in terms of the scoreline has dominated the post-match discussion among pundits but there is no question that the better team won on the day
Dazzling Richarlison sets the required tone
Michael Kenrick : 23/09/2020
Everton saw another slew of goals in their latest Carabao Cup venture to Fleetwood Town on a wet Wednesday evening, two brilliant ones from Richarlison in a scintillating first half.
Calvert-Lewin treble ensures Everton pass Baggies test
Lyndon Lloyd : 19/09/2020
Dominic Calvert-Lewin may have flown under the radar a bit despite scoring the winning goal against Tottenham but he grabbed the lion’s share of the limelight with his first hat-trick to bury a spirited West Brom
Calvert-Lewin hat-trick beats a brace of red cards!
Michael Kenrick : 19/09/2020
Everton eventually built on their impressive start to the new season when newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion were well beaten at Goodison Park in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off.
Second string see off Salford City
Michael Kenrick : 16/09/2020
Everton continue their busy start to the new season with the first step of what they hope will be a long journey in the Carabao Cup as they host Salford City
Transformed Everton Deliver a Statement of Intent
Lyndon Lloyd : 14/09/2020
A trio of unwanted statistics tumbled in North London with a victory founded on a completely revamped midfield and an eye-opening team performance.
Vastly improved Blues hold on for great opening-day win
Michael Kenrick : 13/09/2020
Everton open the season at Tottenham where three new players make their debuts after signing last week.
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