EVERTON 4-0 LEICESTER CITY

Beto v Leicester City

The Fantastic Toffees hit for Four as Leicester are Overwhelmed at Goodison Park. 

David Moyes and company welcomed Leicester to Goodison Park on Saturday for a 6-pointer with massive ramifications on the remainder of the season. Despite being hamstrung by injuries to key players such as Orel Mangala and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the toffees had eyes on moving nine points clear of the bottom three and giving the squad some room to breathe as the January window comes to a close. The two key changes to the starting eleven were direct reactions to those injuries, as Beto received a starting nod as the club’s only real option at striker, and James Garner slid into Managala’s role in midfield playing his first game in several months after recovering from a long-term injury.

Incredibly enough, it did not take even one full minute before the blues found themselves in front. Straight from kickoff Jordan Pickford played a beautiful long bomb of a ball over the top of the defense. Beto did brilliantly to shield the run of Doucoure who latched onto the pass and fired with menace into the bottom corner, giving Everton the lead and Jordan Pickford a rare assist from the other end of the pitch. An obviously shell-shocked Leicester City tried to grab hold of the match following the goal, but things went from good to great for Everton in the 6th minute. Tarkowski, under no pressure at all from the Leicester front line, played a fantastic ball through the lines to Beto. He did brilliantly making his run, controlling the pass, and firing with aplomb like a 20 goal a season scorer. A much needed and perhaps deserved goal for Beto, Everton lead 2-0 only 6 minutes in.

The match slowed down after the second but it was the hosts well in control. In the 20th minute it looked as if the hosts had found a third, after O’Brien steered in a Branthwaite header from a corner. However, the new de facto Everton right back was well offside. The 33rd minute saw a massive penalty shout for the toffees, as Vestergaard went in heavily and recklessly on Beto who was sprinting inside the box. Replay showed a significant amount of contact, but the officials were unmoved. The last 15 or so minutes was an onslaught from Everton, with the toffees asserting their will on the visitors. First James Garner struck the post from a tight angle as he perhaps looked to cross the ball. Shortly after, Mykolenko played a brilliant ball in from the wing that was met by Doucoure. Unfortunately, the midfielder blazed over from extremely close range much to the frustration of the reinvented Ukrainian fullback.

2 minutes into first half additional time, Everton got a third and Beto secured his brace. James Garner played an absolutely scintillating ball from midfield, allowing Beto to once again run onto it. The striker took his time and finished in the bottom right corner this time with some composure. The goal capped off a first-half drubbing from the blues, and a well deserved 3-0 lead at halftime.

The second half started much slower than the first, with Everton looking comfortable to squeeze the vice around Leicester City. The visitors made a double change in response to the lack of impression, but the subs didn’t change much in the flow of the match. In fact, the first big chances of the second half came 30 minutes on, and they were both created by the hosts. First, Doucoure found Jesper Lindstrom brilliantly in the 74th minute. The winger got into a very dangerous position, and struck the ball across goal. Unfortunately, the placement wasn’t spot on and his effort was saved, much too his and the rest of the squad’s disappointment. Just a minute later Ndiaye nearly added Everton’s fourth with a ranged and curling effort that unfortunately went just wide of the post.

Ashley Young came on for Lindstrom in the 75th minute, and Tim Iroebunam came on for James Garner in the 82nd minute, marking his first appearance in a while coming off of a long-term injury. Jack Harrison and Nathan Patterson come on late to see the match out, and it seemed the match was staggering to a close. However, the blues, not satisfied with three goals, added a fourth late on. A calamity of errors from Leicester City saw Ndiaye get the ball all alone in the center of the box. In what looked to be a 5 a side game, Ndiaye measured his strike and buried it into the bottom corner. 4-0, and game over.

The win moves Everton nine points clear of relegation, and in a new twist, scoring goals for fun under David Moyes. Beto’s brace was well-taken and well-deserved, a beloved figure in the squad who seems to do things the right way. Mykolenko continues to look revitalized, Jake O’Brien has been a huge addition to the starting eleven, and the absolute quality on display from James Garner leave Everton fans plenty to be excited about as the club looks to end its final season at Goodison Park with a flourish.

UTFT! 

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