Leicester City (h) Krafty
5pm.. Gordon for Bernard, Gylfi for Davies, same back 4, same front 2, Gomes & Iwobi retain their places. From the Norwich game, that was probably right.
But before we get into it all, this game showed anyone who was watching, what Ancelotti brings to our club. It wasn’t about being lucky and it wasn’t about a wonder goal winner.
After the sluggish first half last week, we came out fast and probably surprised Leicester a bit, which was great to see. On 10 minutes a chipped ball from Holgate down the left found Digne who in turn cushioned a header into the path or Gordon running down the edge of the 18yrd box. One look across to his right, a touch to get the ball out of his feet and he finds Richarlison to the left of the penalty spot 8yrds out, the ball is past Schmeichel so quickly it rebounded out of goal and for a split second from the restricted TV angle you couldn’t tell if it’d gone in! The Pigeon dance confirmed it had, 1-0.
Just before our goal, the newly named ‘stuck on 99 goal Vardy’ had managed to wriggle free in the box and was almost one on one with Pickford, Digne skilfully managed to wedge himself between the striker and the keeper without Vardy falling over and claiming a penalty. Excellent defending.
Six minutes after our first goal came something of a rarity, not seen in L4 4EL since December 2017 and 2 managers ago. A penalty to Everton!! Digne’s free kick aimed at Michael Keane landed on the outstretched, unnaturally positioned arm of Ndidi. Stone wall, nailed on.... you’d think.
2 minutes and 54secs later after umpteen replays and Craig Pawson trying as hard as he possibly could not to give the penalty finally conceded that it was, and David Coote awarded it. Pawson has joined the ranks of Dean, Moss & Atkinson in his complete an utter contempt for fairness of decision when officiating Everton.
Gylfi lines up the penalty, short run up and sends Schmeichel the wrong way. 2-0, breathing space and thoroughly deserved.
There wasn’t a urgency to go for a third goal, we managed to keep Leicester at arms length with smart diagonal balls until the drinks break. Rodgers understandably wiped the floor with his players and the next hour was as much hard work for the Blues watching at home as it was for the players. HT 2-0
Maddison & Iheanacho on for Barnes and Praet and a change in formation to a 4-3-1-2. Tactically Rodgers is a very good coach behind all the cheese and smarminess and it showed immediately. 51st minute Iheanacho gets a face full of an attempted Holgate clearence and it crawls into the bottom corner. All this from constant probing and string pulling from Maddison. Tielemans and Ndidi had moved 10 yards further up the field, the first 10 minutes of the second half was like you’d expect the last 10 minutes to be, Leicester taking residency in Everton’s half.
Since re-start began Keane and Holgate have been excellent, Jordan Pickford almost unemployed. With a deeper line, more fashionably known as ‘low block’ system these days we’d managed to keep the top and bottom of the league out, but hadn’t faced pressure like this in either game. A harmless low cross coming towards Pickford was inexplicably fumbled and the ricochet off Keane was almost fully over the line until it was hacked clear. No blame on Keane, all of Pickford’s doing. After a great save from Evans in the first half, the bipolar nature of Pickford’s concentration levels were paying us a visit, again a few minutes later he came for a cross, completely missed it, thankfully got out of jail.
The hardworking Iwobi and impressive Gordon were replaced by Mina and Bernard in a tactical change and a tactical masterclass by Ancelotti. With Richarlison earlier replaced by Davies, the final 30 minutes were about seeing the game out, having what we hold. Gomes and Gylfi who had been overrun now had an extra player behind them and next to them. Gomes has had a bit of criticism since the Derby, I think it’s a bit unfair, he’s carrying the whole midfield on his own at the moment. He’s desperate for a strong, powerful runner next to him.
3 at the back and the wingbacks tucked in, Davies playing the Rui Costa role skipping between the lines behind DCL who was yet again fantastic, time ticked away. Leicester were shooting from everywhere, mainly hitting the top row of the Park End. Vardy got passed Keane only once, Ayoze Perez had a shot deflected wide. Game seen out. FT 2-1.
Michael Keane again man of the match. He’s been brilliant since the league restarted. He looks a different player in a defence set up to absorb pressure rather than push up high. Coleman’s back to being the player we thought we’d never see again, and a well rested niggle free Digne helps make that defence look very settled.
The one question I’d asked myself at full time was ‘How did we win that’?
But then I thought, how many times in the last 4-5 years have we asked ourselves ‘How did we not win that’?
Conclusion- You get the manager you pay for.
On to next Monday..UTFT💙