|
Post by Everton News. on Dec 10, 2018 19:40:19 GMT
Trio Return To Starting XI For The Visit Of Watford
Michael Keane, Theo Walcott and Bernard return to the Everton starting line-up as Marco Silva makes three changes for Monday’s Goodison Park meeting with Watford.
The trio replace Kurt Zouma, Ademola Lookman and Cenk Tosun from the side that drew 1-1 with Newcastle United last Wednesday as Silva reverts to the XI he selected for three straight outings prior to the visit of the Magpies.
Walcott’s inclusion means he racks up a 300th Premier League appearance, while there is also a top-flight milestone for Keane, who reaches three figures in the competition.
Keane will take his place in defence alongside Yerry Mina, Lucas Digne and stand-in skipper Seamus Coleman, a back five completed by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and once again protected by the pairing of Andre Gomes and Idrissa Gana Gueye in midfield.
Walcott and Bernard adopt their familiar positions on either wing, with Gylfi Sigurdsson set to make his 50th Everton appearance in behind Brazil international Richarlison.
Zouma, Lookman and Tosun all take their place on the bench, where they are joined by Maarten Stekelenburg, Leighton Baines, Tom Davies and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
"This is the best 11 to start the match,” said Silva ahead of kick off. “Of course it was a headache to decide but I feel we came up with a good solution.
“The players who have come out played really well [against Newcastle]. [Kurt] Zouma had a fantastic game again and it wasn’t easy to change him.
“But it is a part of my job to make these decisions.
“What is important for me is that these players are now ready to help the team if they are needed."
Everton FC
|
|
|
Post by rugbytoffee on Dec 10, 2018 21:50:55 GMT
EMBARRASSING.
|
|
|
Post by Everton News. on Dec 10, 2018 22:25:16 GMT
Watford fans brought inflatable snakes to taunt Marco Silva but were deflated when Lucas Digne’s stoppage-time free-kick denied them a first victory since October. Three points, the only true way to punish their former manager, were in sight when Christian Kabasele handled just outside his penalty area. The visitors were resigned to their fate before the French full-back floated the ball inside the top corner to rescue a point for Everton. Richarlison, Everton’s £40m summer signing from Vicarage Road, gave Everton a controversial early lead that was long forgotten by the time Gylfi Sigurdsson failed to convert a second half penalty. Seamus Coleman had put through his own goal by that stage, with Abdoulaye Doucoure converting a towering header seconds later to give Watford their first victory since 27 October. Everton could have no complaints after a second consecutive meagre display on home soil. Watford’s dispute with Everton over what they deemed an “unwarranted approach” for Silva last year remains unresolved. It was their decision to sack the Portuguese coach in January following a run of one win in 11 matches but the circumstances that preceded his exit still rankle. He was greeted with a display of inflatable snakes in the away section before kick-off as the Watford fans who journeyed to Merseyside on a Monday night made their feelings clear. It was their former player, not their ex-manager, who caused the greater upset on the night, however. Richarlison scored five goals in his first 13 outings for Watford last season but none in the 28 games that followed. The Brazil international eclipsed that sum in his 10th appearance for Everton and claimed his eighth of the season when sweeping the hosts into an early, polished yet controversial lead. There was no disputing the quality of the move that brought Silva’s current team the lead. Theo Walcott, making his 300th Premier League appearance, released Seamus Coleman down the right and he found André Gomes moving into space on the edge of the Watford area. The Portugal international exchanged touches with Walcott before delivering an inch-perfect ball for Richarlison to convert beyond Ben Foster at close range. But Walcott was clearly offside when he received Gomes’s pass and, despite mass appeals from those in green, the referee, Kevin Friend, and his assistant were unmoved. Watford had another grievance with Everton. The hosts were bright in attack with Bernard and Gylfi Sigurdsson bringing finesse and vision in the final third. The pair almost combined to create a second for Richarlison but Craig Cathcart made a crucial intervention facing his own goal. The Northern Ireland defender also denied Sigurdsson when the Iceland international attempted to guide a finish past Foster and Yerry Mina was booked for deliberate handball from the No 10’s inviting cross. Watford also threatened regularly in an open, flowing first half. Roberto Pereyra found himself in space inside the Everton area with only a minute gone but shot tamely at Jordan Pickford. Troy Deeney volleyed over from two yards out when Isaac Success shot across goal – his blushes were spared by an offside flag – and the visiting captain steered a long ball from Domingos Quina wide on the stroke of half-time. Mina flirted with a second yellow card when he took Success and the ball as the forward broke in search of an equaliser. Enough of the ball in Friend’s view, to the obvious disgust of Success and Javi Gracia in the Watford technical area. They would find consolation in their team’s dominant start to the second half. The visitors’ strength, pace and movement – combined with a careless and chaotic restart by the hosts – turned the contest firmly in their favour. Silva raged at his players from the sidelines but the lead evaporated before the Everton manager could implement change. Pereyra, Abdoulaye Doucouré and Deeney went close before the equaliser arrived fortuitously but not without merit. A slip by Lucas Digne invited former Evertonian Gerard Deulofeu to release Kiko Femenia down the left. His first-time cross was steered on to a post by Pereyra but, just as Watford thought their luck was out, the rebound struck Coleman on the thigh and rolled into an empty net. Watford were ahead two minutes later thanks to another raid down their right. As Everton dawdled over a free-kick, Gracia’s team reacted sharply with Femenia playing Pereyra into space. The Argentinian delivered a deep cross to the back post where Doucouré rose above Coleman and sent a textbook header past Pickford. The game had exploded into life and seconds later Everton were awarded a penalty when Christian Kabasele needlessly jumped into the back of Mina when competing for a Digne throw-in. Sigurdsson seized the responsibility to draw his team level but, as with his spot-kick against Fulham earlier in the season, was unable to convert. Foster saved the penalty with his trailing leg to deepen Silva’s frustration against his old employers. Guardian
|
|
|
Post by Avinalaff on Dec 10, 2018 22:44:35 GMT
I'm not a happy bunny mate. We knew it was coming and Silva did nothing to change things.
|
|
|
Post by rugbytoffee on Dec 11, 2018 13:06:44 GMT
Deulofeu came on as a second-half substitute last night and had his former side in a little bit of trouble with his incisive passes. But he made his biggest impact after the final whistle had blown, when he went on to applaud the Goodison Park fans and also gave away his match shirt.
|
|