Everton Archives - Dunda Football

May 30, 2023May 30, 2023

The eventful Premier League relegation battle

Premier League fans experienced a season like no other as two clubs confirmed relegation on the final day. The two joined Southampton FC, whose relegation had earlier been confirmed. Three clubs were risking relegation to the Championship; Everton, Leicester City, and Leeds United. The battle was set for the deadline day, a unique phenomenon in the Premier League. After a ferocious fight that displayed the character in Sean Dyche’s men, Everton managed to escape the fall.

The last supper

Like the proverbial last supper, the clubs cautiously approached the last match, knowing its weight on the fan base. Leeds United had been in the league the past three seasons impressing in several matches. Everton had never been relegated since the inception of the new premier league in 1992. Leicester City had won the Premier League title as underdogs two years after their promotion to the league. The three clubs understood the assignment ahead and knew how crucial their wins would be.

Leeds United were sitting in 19^th position with 31 points. In the 18th spot, Leicester City also had 31 points but with a superior goal difference to that of Leeds United. Everton was hanging by a thread with 33 points at position 17. All of them needed wins to solidify their chances of survival.

Leeds United suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur FC, who were focused on finishing the season strong. This humiliating loss confirmed to the fans that Elland Road will have to go at least a season without Premier League football. Leicester City held on to a 2-1 win against West Ham United. However, this win did not keep the 2015/16 underdog EPL winners in the coveted league as a defeat for Everton would have been mandatory to secure their position in next season’s PL campaign.

Disappointed Maddison following Leicester City’s relegation. *Image: Skysports*

Everton will forever be thankful to Abdoulaye Doucoure, whose strike gave them life for another season. Some fans had already started doubting whether they would enjoy the ambiance of Goodison Park next season. Doucoure’s goal proved the saving grace for the Toffees, who had lost their glory.

Therefore, The Championship will have three EPL regulars battling to get back to the EPL next season. Leeds United, Leicester City, and the Saints must adapt to the 44 games season while battling to get a slot back in the EPL.

The manager’s input

Sean Dyche deserves his flowers for powering Everton out of relegation despite finding them worse off. Although he recorded some humiliating defeats, Dyche held on his nerves and secured Everton from the jaws of relegation. Playing deep and utilizing set pieces, Everton survived relegation by a whisker—credits to Sean Dyche for giving some life back to the Merseyside Blue side.

Sam Allardyce, known as Big Sam, could not salvage Leeds United from the sinking ship. Despite looking promising when taking the job, Allardyce faced yet another relegation in the EPL. Having a vast experience in the league, it was thought Sam would find a way to survive the cut. However, he failed to steady the sinking ship and will have to do with the Championship next season.

What next for the fallen giants?

The 44 games a season league awaits the relegated parties in the Championship. They will be facing promising clubs like Coventry, Middlesbrough, and Sunderland FC, who slightly failed to gain promotion to EPL. The battle to return to the Premier League will be an exhilarating affair.

Consequently, the clubs risk losing some of their top cream of players. Leicester City might lose the likes of Harvey Barnes, Wout Faes, James Maddison, and Sinistera. Southampton risk losing Bella Kotchap, Lavia, and Mara, among other stars who impressed individually. Among talented players, Leeds United might lose Gnonto, Rodrygo, and Aaronson.

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Exciting Merseyside Derby: Ancellotti still unbeaten as Everton draw against Liverpool

by marina

Ancelloti Effect!

Ancellotti’s Everton drew against Liverpool, in today’s edition of the Merseyside derby at Goodison park, in what was a fairly contested match. The Toffee’s came into this game having won all their previous four league games. You would suppose they have faced weak opponents. However, that is not the case. Before this match, Everton were top of the table with twelve points and scoring twelve goals. Following their draw against Liverpool, they are still top of the table with 13 points and scoring 14 goals. It` s notable that this is quite a good start as compared to previous season. Ancellotti effect!

No sooner had the match started than Mane found the back of the net. Two minutes and a few seconds into the game, the Senegalese forward converted a pass from Robertson to hand the Reds the lead. Liverpool were having a good start to the game.

However, just a few minutes following the goal, Virgil Van Dijk was taken to the ground by Pickford. In what surprisingly was not deemed as a foul. Joe Gomez was subbed following Van Dijk`s injury. Michael Keane headed the ball right past Adrian to even the scores.

1:1 was the Merseyside derby score at the end of the first half. Mohamed Salah later on added his goal tally to make it 6 goals in five appearances. His goal was an unexpected swish right past Pickford. Yerry Mina made a poor clearance which landed just in front of the Egyptian goal scorer. At this moment Liverpool seemed to have won the game against Everton. In the 81^st minute, Dominic Calvert Lewin headed the ball past Adrian ensuring the scores were level.

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A draw again

Later on, Richarlison landed a red card following his two-footed tackle on Thiago Alcantra. Fortunately, no injuries. In added time, Henderson found the back of the net. The celebration was short lived thanks to VAR. This ensured that the Merseyside derby ended level at Goodison Park. The last three Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park have all ended level, this was the fourth.

Ancellotti extended his unbeaten run this season in charge of the Toffee’s. Not even Mourinho’s Tottenham could get a win against them. How many more matches before Everton losses a Premier league match? Klopp yet again remains unbeaten vs Everton since he made his arrival to EPL. More records counting up, and new been made. A great match, great coaches and equally amazing players. Looking forward to the reverse fixture at Anfield.

Calvert-Lewin the goal Machine, Pogba laser and Torres’ debut goal

by marina

It was an exciting football night in EFL as Calvert-Lewin bagged a hat-trick, Pogba pulled a master class, and Manchester City got a victory vs Burnley.

Ancelloti’s squad

Following the new additions of players, Everton seem a formidable opponent to all Premier League teams. Everton has won all six games they have played, both in EPL and EFL. Of the six games that Everton has played, the Calvert-Lewin has started in five. He has scored in four of the games, eight goals. The English striker now averages 1.6 goals per game. He bagged a hat-trick helping his side beat Westham 4:1. Allan and Richarlison were subbed out following injuries they got. The severity of the injuries is yet to be clarified. Everton will now proceed to the quarter final round of EFL.

Everton has won all six games they have played, both in EPL and EFL. Ancellotti's new signings have been pivotal to Everton's success. — Carlo Ancelloti. Photo Credit opta

Manchester City vs Burnley

Manchester City was away to Burnley. However, they managed to win the game 0:3. Since 2016, Manchester City is yet to lose to Burnley in all competitions. During this time, they have drawn only once and won the rest of the matches. Pep Guardiola made three changes to the team that lost to Leicester. Sterling started upfront again since the Cityzen’s are without their natural strikers, Aguero and Jesus. Ferran Torres made his debut for the Cityzens.

Torres celebrating debut goal with teammate Rodri. Manchester City won the match 3:0 to progress to the quarter finals of EFL, Carabao cup — Torres celebrating debut goal with teammate Rodri. Photo Credit: Manchester City

Moreover, he netted the winning goal for Manchester City. Raheem Sterling made a through ball that found Torres. The 20-year-old Spanish winger found the top corner of the goal. Pep Guardiola fielded Sterling as a striker, and he scored a brace. Moreover, he made an assist. Indeed, a superb performance from him.

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The lost rematch vs Manchester United

On Saturday, Manchester United won against Brighton. Brighton had An excellent performance in this game but were not able to outscore the Red devils. Like Arsenal or Liverpool, United were to play the same team in the EFL as they did in the weekend.

Pogba celebrating freekick goal vs Brighton in Carabao. Manchester Unite won 3:0 — Pogba celebrating freekick goal vs Brighton in Carabao. Photo Credit: Manchester United

Van De Beek started for United. Moreover, Diogo Dalot made an appearance for United at the fullbacks position. Precisely, his first appearance for United this season. Scott McTominay found the back of the net in the first half, following a freekick by Juan Mata. Later on, Juan Mata found the back of the net from open play. A splendid connection with the new signing from Ajax, Van de Beek. In the 80^th minute, Pogba scored. Indeed, it was a magnificent shot past the Brighton wall. Jason Steele, Brighton’s keeper, did not move a muscle as he watched the ball get into the net. Above all, Dean Henderson’s performance was a 10 over 10. The English keeper made two superb saves. It was a well-deserved win for United.

Manchester United, Everton, Manchester City, and Newcastle have all proceeded to the quarter-finals of the Carabao cup.

England/Main Stories

September 15, 2020

Napoli sacked Carlo Ancelotti. Here is what to expect from his Everton rebuild.

by Lawrence Juma

Carlo Ancelotti is sacked by Napoli.

On 10 December 2019, Napoli sacked Carlo Ancelotti. A four-nil home victory against Genk in Napoli’s final group stage match of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League season that ensured the club advanced to the round of 16 was not enough to save his job.

Former Napoli Manager Carlo Ancelotti. Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

11 days later, 21st December 2019, Ancelotti had secured a new job. Everton FC appointed him as their new manager on a four and a half year deal. In his first match, Everton won 1-0 against Burnley.

Carlo Ancelotti celebrating Everton's win against Burnley. Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images — Carlo Ancelotti celebrating Everton’s win against Burnley. Image: *Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images*

Carlo Ancelotti being sacked by Napoli a welcome news for Everton.

Barely two months after his appointment, a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on 8^th February 2020 meant only league leaders Liverpool had earned more points than Everton since the Toffees had picked up 17 points over that period. By the end of the season, they had won 30 points from 20 matches. As a result, they finished 12^th on the Premier League table. Ancelotti averaged 1.58 points-per-game in that run. What does this mean? This means Everton would have picked up 60 points and finished 7^th on the table if Ancelotti had led them across the entire season and maintained the points-per-game ratio. Just if!

The change in Everton’s fortunes traces to the switch to Ancelotti’s preferred 4-4-2 formation when off the ball. This formation transitions into a fluid 4-3-3 when they get control of the ball. Playing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison together upfront brought the best out of them. Great man-management I would say. The pair did not play together upfront before Napoli sacked Carlo Ancelotti. However, there were issues with his midfield options. Andre Gomes, Gylfi Sigurdsson, and Tom Davies were not athletic enough and lacked the intensity to keep pace with teams that deployed a three-person midfield. The toffees ranked 13^th in the Premier League for passes into the final third in the 2019/20 season.

Everton striking duo Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Image: Getty Images

Present.

Ancelotti has overseen a revamp of Everton’s midfield in the 2020 summer transfer window. They have signed a midfield trio of James Rodriguez from Real Madrid. The Colombian international was signed for a fee reported to be £12m. Moreover, they signed Allan from Napoli for £21m, and Doucoure from Watford for £25m.

Allan brings to the team excellent ball-winning capabilities. He averaged 3.51 tackles and 1.12 interceptions per 90 minutes for Napoli in the Serie A in the 2019/20 season. Doucoure is a box-to-box midfielder. He can dribble, win the ball and create chances. He created 38 chances for Watford last season. Only Gerard Deulofeu created more (44).

Carlo Ancelotti summer signing from Napoli Allan in action against Tottenham. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) — Allan in action against Tottenham. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Carlo Ancelloti summer signing from Watford Doucoure in action against Tottenham. Image: Getty Images — Doucoure in action against Tottenham. Image: Getty Images

James Rodriguez is the final piece of the midfield puzzle. His most likely deployment area is behind the upfront striker pairing of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Alternatively, a 4-2-3-1 formation could be used. Richarlison plays on the wing. Rodriguez plays in the middle and one of Bernard, Theo Walcott, or Iwobi on the opposite flank. In this case, Calvert-Lewin plays up front. Moreover, Allan and Doucoure would play behind Rodriguez in this scenario.

James Rodriguez in action against Tottenham. Image: Getty Images

Match Day 1.

Carlo Ancelloti opted for a 4-3-3 formation against Tottenham. Dominic Calvert-Lewin played up front. Richarlison was deployed on the left flank and James Rodriguez on the right. The midfield trio was Allan in the centre with Andre Gomes and Doucoure on either side.

Allan and Doucoure had the expected impacts on the game, as shown by the match statistics.

Tag: Everton

The eventful Premier League relegation battle

The last supper

The manager’s input

What next for the fallen giants?

Also Read:

Exciting Merseyside Derby: Ancellotti still unbeaten as Everton draw against Liverpool

Ancelloti Effect!

Also Read

A draw again

Calvert-Lewin the goal Machine, Pogba laser and Torres’ debut goal

Ancelloti’s squad

Manchester City vs Burnley

Also Read

The lost rematch vs Manchester United

Napoli sacked Carlo Ancelotti. Here is what to expect from his Everton rebuild.

Carlo Ancelotti is sacked by Napoli.

Carlo Ancelotti being sacked by Napoli a welcome news for Everton.

Present.

See Also.

Match Day 1.