November was a bit of a strange month for Everton. The blues had one of their best and likely their worst performance of the season so far. November also featured a solid win at Hill Dickinson Stadium and a strange point away from home. There is a lot to talk about, so let’s dive right in
Sunderland v Everton
The Toffees first match in November was a trip to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland. Through the first 30 minutes it looked like Everton were going to cruise to a big win. Thing is, football is a 90 minute match. Ndiaye started the scoring on the day after a brilliant solo run. Sunderland were dispossessed near the halfway line, Ndiaye pounced on the ball and made a B line for the Sunderland box. He cuts the ball on to his left foot drags a few defenders out of position and perfectly picks out the top left corner of the goal. It’s a goal that every supporter wants to see their winger score. A moment of brilliance from Everton’s star man.
The Joy didn’t last though. After the 30 minute mark Sunderland took hold of the match, and would not let it go for just about the rest of the match. Sunderland paid off their control of the match immediately after halftime. 42 seconds into the second half Granit Xhaka scored the equalizer after a good set up by Enzo Le Fee. Sunderland would spend almost the entire second half asking questions of the Everton defense. Jordan Pickford was forced into a save just a few minutes after the Sunderland Equalizer. The black cats had a few chances that came and went taking Everton off the hook. Everton did have a little spell of possession with 10 minutes to go, but didn’t create a lot of great chances. In the end the points were shared, although Sunderland likely felt they deserved more from the match.
Everton v Fulham
After what was a bit of a frustrating match against Sunderland, Everton played host to Fulham at Hill Dickinson Stadium and Everton needed three points after three matches without a win. Everton delivered exactly that with a dominating performance over Fulham. From the jump Everton had control of the match and it never looked like it was going to be anything but an Everton win. The blues created a few good chances early on, even put the ball in the net, but Barry was deemed to be offsides. So Barry’s wait for his first goal carried on. Everton once again put the ball in the net off a thumping volley by Tarkowski, but once again the offsides flag was and it looked like Fulham were going to escape the first half without allowing a goal. Irdissa Gana Gueye had other plans. After a James Tarkowski header hit the crossbar there was a scramble in the box, and Fulham couldn’t clear the ball out and Gana made no mistake and gave Everton the lead right before halftime.
10 minutes into the second half Everton had a third goal chalked off for offsides. This one was a bit dubious. Barry was offsides and didn’t seem to have any effect on the play but the officials didn’t see it that way and Everton remained up 1-0. Everton continued to out play Fulham the rest of the half until the finally scored the dagger with just nine minutes left to go. A great corner from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall found Michael Keane who headed home with no offsides stopping this one, and Everton would finish with a well deserved 2-0 victory.
Manchester United v Everton
This was the most bizarre match of the Premier League season so far. It was a normal first 10 or so minutes, both teams feeling each other out a bit. 13 minutes into the match Everton had a bad giveaway in their own box. Idrissa Gana Gueye played a pass to Michael Keane who didn’t read it and Manchester United flashed on to and Bruno Fernandes narrowly missed giving Manchester United the lead. After the shot Gueye was berating Keane for his misplay. Keane ended up shoving Gueye and then Gueye slapped Keane across the face. The Referee had no choice but to send Gana off for violent conduct. This coming only a few minutes after Seamus Coleman had to be subbed off after picking up a knock. This could have easily spiraled out of control for Everton. Instead it seemed to only strengthen the resolve of the toffees.
After the Gana red care Everton were easily the better side. They were creating the better chance and were looking more likely to score. With 30 minutes on the clock Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had Everton’s opener. James Garner played a ball to Dewsbury-Hall he turned and got past two half hearted tackles from Bruno Fernandes and Lenny Yoro, He hit a curling right footed shot to the top right corner of the goal and Everton had the lead. Jordan Pickford made a big save to close out the first half to keep Everton ahead and was foreshadowing for what was to come in the second half. Manchester United came out in the second half with an attack mindset looking to quickly equalize against ten man Everton. Jordan Pickford was a busy man in the second half. He made three outstanding saves to keep his clean sheet intact. One save on a Joshua Zirkzee could end up being one of the saves of the season in the Premier League. Against all odds Everton saw out their 1-0 victory thanks to a tremendous team effort from everyone on the pitch.
Everton v Newcastle United
In the last match in November Everton were looking to build off of a tremendous performance at Manchester United on Monday night. What happened instead was perhaps a bigger head scratcher than Idrissa Gueye slapping Michael Keane in the face. Seconds into the match Everton turned the ball over and Newcastle went on a counter attack. Anthony Elanga was played in behind the Everton defense and the winger tried to beat Jordan Pickford with a low and hard shot to the bottom left corner. It might have been going wide but Pickford took no chances and parried it out for a Corner. On the ensuing corner Newcastle United scored and Everton were behind after just one minute. This is as close to a point Everton would get the rest of the match. The Toffees never got into enough of a rhythm to really challenge Newcastle in anyway. Jordan Pickford ended up giving up a weak goal with 25 minutes on the clock and the match was pretty much done and dusted right then. Newcastle added a third right before halftime, and got their 4th in the 58th minute. Barry Thought he had his first goal against Fulham, but it was chalked off for offsides, Barry once again thought he had his first goal, but VAR wiped it away for a weak handball. Everton did get a consolation goal with 20 minutes remaining. A really well taken by Kirenan Dewsbury-Hall, but it was too little too late and Everton were handily beaten at home after the performance of the season at Manchester United.
Everton are still trying to find themselves a little bit. Sometimes they look like they can easily finish in a European place, and sometimes they are frustrating and lack the finishing needed to hit their peak. One thing is for sure, David Moyes has the group bought in. Everton are starting to look like a team that cannot be taken lightly anymore, they can compete with any team in the league if they are on top of their game. The fixtures are going to be coming hot and heavy to end the year and to kick off next year. The start of the FA cup is right around the corner too, it will be important for Everton to pick up points early in December as the fixtures get tougher.
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