The away day blues for the Blues extended to this visit to the Liberty Stadium when Fernando Llorente’s first half goal secured for Swansea a Premier League lifeline. For Everton, it was a first defeat in a league game in Wales since 1956, when beaten 1-0 by Cardiff at Ninian Park, and the Toffees remain winless in their past seven games on the road.
Such a contrast to the home form in which Everton have been imperious for the most part this season at Goodison. Europa League football has been secured, of course, for next season but the possibility of closing the gap on Arsenal and sixth position in the Premier League receded significantly with this result.
Perfect incentive for Swansea came with the events at the KCOM Stadium, where Hull City suffered a 2-0 defeat against already-relegated Sunderland. The Swans knew prior to kick-off that victory could catapult them out of the relegation places. Manager Paul Clement made one change from his side’s draw in their previous game against Manchester United, while Ronald Koeman made two changes from the Blues’ defeat against Premier League champions-elect Chelsea, with Ross Barkley and Enner Valencia making way for Gareth Barry and Kevin Mirallas.
“First of all, we are playing against a diamond in midfield and always I like to control the game. That’s the reason that Barry is in,” the Everton manager explained. “The second is the position of Mirallas. We need more productivity from the midfield and the strikers and that’s [the reason behind] that decision.”
Mirallas combined early with his compatriot, Romelu Lukaku, but the Belgian striker’s header was straight at Lukasz Fabianski, the Swansea goalkeeper. Everton’s start was positive and when danger lurked, such as with a corner kick by the home side fired into the near post area, Phil Jagielka was there to clear, as was Ashley Williams, the Swans’ former captain. Much of the early action revolved around the midfield battle. Whenever Everton threatened to break through the final pass was not clinical enough. Intensity and aggression were lacking, too, though there was plenty of tension in the air with so much riding on the game for the home team especially.
Several times Barry came close to playing an incisive early ball, targeting Lukaku in particular and also Mirallas. Lukaku found himself targeted, too, by an interloper who ran almost the length of the pitch before grabbing the striker in an embrace and planting a kiss on his cheek.
It was the home side and supporters, however, who were soon locked in joyful celebration. Gylfi Sigurdsson fell over in the penalty area and referee Martin Atkinson dismissed the strenuous appeals for a penalty. But the ball came to Jordan Ayew on the byline, Barry was unable to block the cross and Llorente on the back post climbed over Jagielka to meet Ayew’s delivery and convert his 13th goal of the season in the 29th minute.
Three minutes later only a last-ditch tackle by Mason Holgate prevented Swansea from claiming a two-goal lead. Swansea skipper Leon Britton linked up with Sigursson and the Iceland international fired the ball from the right across the box for Alfie Mawson, at the back post, who would have finished it off but for the Everton defender’s superb intervention.
The Everton manager made another intervention at the interval. Barkley replaced Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the instruction would have been clear to raise the tempo and energy levels and link up more productively with Lukaku, who remained largely a peripheral presence through much of the first half.
Swansea struggled to deal with a free kick floated in by Leighton Baines and there was better link-up play when Idrissa Gana Gueye picked an early pass to Lukaku who tried to play in Barkley but the Belgian’s ball travelled too far and Fabiankski came off his line to avert the danger. But Ayew almost made another telling intervention when Ki-Sung Yeung fired the ball into the box, it was only half cleared and Ayew on the volley with his right foot struck the outside of the post and went wide.
Everton responded quickly. Lukaku played a low ball in from the left across the face of goal and the slightest touch from Mirallas in the middle would have done for Fabianski and Swansea. Alas, Mirallas failed to connect and the ball went wide.
Barry made way for Enner Valencia and Lukaku drilled in a shot from the edge of the penalty area which Fabianski safely gathered low to his right. At the other end Swansea were denied twice in rapid succession. Sigurdsson’s corner was met by a header from Federico Fernandez and Barkley somehow managed to deflect the ball over the cross bar. From the resultant corner by Sigurdsson again, Llorente got the header this time and Maarten Stekelenburg made the save down to his right.
Swansea’s advantage was a fraught one, however. Tom Davies made his way to the byline, angled the ball back across the face of goal and in the scramble Mirallas was just unable to land a decisive blow as Swansea managed to clear. It was like pinball in the box. Barkley took a strong arm, inadvertently, from Ayew but got back to his feet without treatment. The game had intensity now.
An incredible save by Stekelenburg denied Swansea substitute Leroy Fer. Tom Carroll managed to beat Mason Holgate on the left for Swansea, his terrific delivery was met by Fer’s run and his first-time shot was met by Stekelenburg’s reflex save and the ball went out for a corner.
Jonjoe Kenny came on for Holgate and Lukaku beat a hasty track towards goal, shifting onto his right foot for a shot which powered into the side netting.
Everton kept pressing in search of an equaliser. A free kick by Baines was flicked on by Mirallas and Williams just failed to get a touch as the ball veered wide. It was a frustrating end to a frustrating afternoon in south Wales.
Everton FC