Everton fell to a 1-0 defeat to Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon – after the Blues saw a late equaliser disallowed for offside.
The defeat marks the end of a five-game unbeaten run for the Toffees, who conceded through Adam Armstrong’s 85th minute goal – a first-time finish that arrived just moments after Beto had hit the bar for Everton.
Four minutes later, the forward was involved again – this time seeing an 89th minute goal ruled out after a lengthy review from VAR.
Everton’s first defeat since mid-September, victory for Southampton marks their opening win of the Premier League season.
Manager Sean Dyche made two changes to the side who earned a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Goodison Park during their previous fixture. Jesper Lindstrøm came in for Jack Harrison on the right flank, while in central midfield, Orel Mangala replaced Abdoulaye Doucoure, who picked up a knock last time out.
At right-back, Ashley Young was named in the Everton line-up, marking his 400th Premier League start.
FIRST HALF
Going into the game, only three Premier League teams had completed more passes than Southampton (4,139) this season, and the Saints again showed a dominance on the ball, recording 86 per cent possession across an a fairly quiet opening 10 minutes.
However, in the 11th minute, Southampton, trying to build from the back, were caught out after an aggressive Everton press led by Idrissa Gana Gueye and Dwight McNeil. Gana won the ball on the edge of the penalty, rolling a pass into Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the six-yard line, who saw his first-time effort blocked from close range by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Just after the half-hour mark, Calvert-Lewin again caused problems for the Southampton backline, picking up the ball before charging down the left channel. The Toffees No.9 arrowed a left-footed low ball into the box, but Harwood-Bellis was on hand to make another vital block.
Southampton’s first effort of the half came after 41 minutes. Progressing through the middle of the pitch, Flynn Downes found forward Cameron Archer with a well-timed through ball. Edging past Young, he dragged a right-footed effort just wide of Jordan Pickford’s far post.
Everton responded moments later, counter-attacking through McNeil through the Southampton half, before eventually being dispossessed on the edge of their box, while Calvert-Lewin fell to ground, appearing to feel a push inside the penalty area.
Eager to open the scoring before half-time, the hosts almost found an opening when Adam Armstrong’s low cross from the right flank was forced away by Pickford, punching clear of Ryan Manning at the back post.
Shortly after, Southampton followed that move with a another near miss. This time, Manning was the creator, aiming a lofted corner-kick to Harwood-Bellis, whose header bounced wide.
The whistle was blown to end a goalless half – a competitive 45 minutes at St Mary’s in which both sides grew into the game.
SECOND HALF
Everton came close just five minutes into the second half after a sustained period of attacking pressure on the Saints’ goal. The ball went out to right wing, where Young squared up his man and pulled a low ball back to Mangala on the edge of the box. Shooting first time, he forced a panicked Aaron Ramsdale into an unorthodox save, pushing the ball over the bar.
Southampton threatened at the other end after Michael Keane picked up a yellow card for a foul on Archer. Lining up a free-kick towards the right of the penalty area, Manning crossed, and the ball bounced in the box, before falling to Harwood-Bellis. He struck at goal, but Tarkowski was there to make a crucial block.
Looking to gain an edge in the contest, Dyche made a double change on 62 minutes, sending on Harrison and Beto for Iliman Ndiaye and Calvert-Lewin.
Five minutes later, Everton again almost found the net, when Lindstrøm cut inside from the left, drifting a delicate ball to the back post, where Micheal Keane and Beto were lurking. Keane headed downwards, but Ramsdale made a brilliant save to deny the defender, with the ball ricocheting from keeper to post, and again from keeper to post in an agonising split second for the Blues.
The hosts began to ease into another strong spell of possession during the final third of the game, but Everton fought back, kickstarting a counter-attack through Beto, who knocked the ball past Jan Bednarek, running around the defender, before being brought down on the left side of the penalty area.
Matt Donohue – the game’s VAR – checked the incident for a potential red card, but with nothing given, play resumed. Lindstrøm struck the resulting free-kick, and Ramsdale had to be alert to make a diving save.
A strong finish to the game, Everton followed that chance with another close call. Swinging a deep cross from the left, McNeil played Harrison into the box. He beat Ramsdale to the ball, flicking an effort inches wide of the right post.
On 84 minutes, Everton again posed danger through a Lindstrøm set piece. He crossed from the right side to the back post, where Tarkowski headed back across goal, where Beto was inside the six-yard box. His header crashed against the crossbar.
Punished for missing that chance, Southampton clinically took the lead at the other end just moments later.
Second-half substitute Yuki Sugawara, running down the right wing, produced a low cross into the Everton box, where Armstrong – darting into the middle of the penalty area – was there to finish past Pickford.
The Blues thought they’d found an equaliser on 89 minutes after Beto’s calm finish from Tarkowski’s long ball up the field. However, following an in-depth VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside.
A relieved home crowd cheered, and the Saints managed to see out the final minutes of the game to secure their first league win of 2024/25.
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