Soccer
Everton
against Brighton and Hove Albion. Premier League.
2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 2, 2022.
Goodison Park.
Report and free highlights when Alexis Mac Allister scores twice to secure Brighton’s first win over Everton at Goodison Park; Rafael Benitez has suffered eight defeats in his last 12 games
@Ben_Islington
Alexis Mac Allister scored twice as Brighton took their first win at Goodison Park with an entertaining 3-2 win over Everton.
Rafael Benitez welcomed Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the first time since beating Everton Back in the starting XI in August but it was the trio of center-backs who were guilty just three minutes later when they all saw Neal Maupay’s header drop to Mac Allister who shot home.
Became for Everton It got worse when Dan Burn doubled Brighton’s lead after a well-crafted corner (21) before being awarded a lifeline as they were awarded a penalty after Enock Mwepu fouled Anthony Gordon but Calvert-Lewin hit the bar with his spot kick.
Gordon wanted to cut the deficit in half when his shot was deflected by Adam Lallana (53rd), Mac Allister set Brighton’s two-goal lead with a brilliant shot from the edge of the box eder, who was decisive in the end (71st).
Gordon hit Jonjoe Kenny’s low cross five minutes later to give Everton hope, but now it’s eight losses in 12 games for Benitez. After 18 games, the hosts are in 15th place with 19 points, eight points behind the relegation zone, while Brighton moves up to eighth place in the table with 27 points.
Everton: Pickford (6), Kenny (7), Holgate ( 6), Keane (5), Godfrey (6), Allan (6), Doucoure (5), Gordon (8), Coleman (6), Gray (7.)), Calvert-Lewin (5).
Subs: Gomes (n / a), Rondon (n / a).
Brighton: Sanchez (7), Cucurella (7), Webster (7), Veltman (7), Burn (8), Bissouma (7), Mwepu (7), Lallana (6), Trossard (6), Mac Allister ( 9), Maupay (7).
Subs: Lamptey (6), Moder (n / a), Duffy (7).
Man of the game: Alexis Mac Allister.
On the eve of the game, Benitez compared Calvert-Lewin to a new signing when the striker made his first appearance since August, ironically in the 2-0 win in Brighton.
Der England internationals have scored a goal in each of the club’s first three games of the season, but a hamstring injury and a subsequent setback in his recovery have so far banned the Toffees boss.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin made his first appearance since August when Everton resumed action after more than two weeks of inactivity. Lucas Digne, whose time at the club appears limited after the signing of Vitaliy Mykolenko on Saturday but does not appear in time, returned to the squad as a substitute for the first time in three games.
Brighton made three changes to Chelsea with the arrival of Adam Webster, Leandro Trossard and Enock Mwepu.
Benitez is delighted to have last season’s top scorer back but warned against over-expecting him and saw his team fall back within three minutes.
Joel Veltman was found far too easily in space by Mac Allister, who continued his run forward and was then found by Maupay’s padded header to make his first shot behind Jordan Pickford.
At two minutes and 43 seconds, it was Brighton’s third fastest goal in the Premier League and the earliest away goal in the competition.
This was Everton’s first game in over a fortnight after playing against Leicester, Burnley and Newcastle have been moved. This proved to be a double-edged sword as, while not giving them competitive action, it did give a long list of injured players time to continue their rehabilitation.
Everton looked rusty in the first half and deteriorated in the 21st minute Things up for their makeshift defense when they looked for another set goal, two goals behind.
Mac Allister whipped in a corner that outplayed Mwepu and the home defense completely ignored the huge figure of Burn who was left unmarked on long Post home nodded.
And just as the hosts thought things couldn’t get worse, Calvert-Lewin flashed a 25th-minute penalty that was missed after VAR-recommended referee John Brooks took another Looking at Mwepu’s challenge against Gordon.
Benitez resisted the temptation to switch at half time, even though his team was in Half-time was whistled but got an immediate reaction from his players.
Demarai Gray was found on the left by Seamus Coleman and his cross was steered towards the goal by Calvert-Lewin just to get Burn to make a brilliant block.
Moments later, Brighton wasn’t so lucky when Allan found Gordon on the right in the room and when the youngster hit back on his left shoe, his shot was deflected by Lallana and past the fake Robert Sanchez. < Suddenly, Everton and Goodison's crowd had nearly broken out in the 68th minute as Gray prepared Allan from range for the shot, but Sanchez rushed over to make an excellent save with his fingertip.
It was a critical moment as Brighton restored their two-goal buffer against game play three minutes later. Michael Keane was bad with his clearance when Burn stepped in to feed Leandro Trossard on the left.
His low cut-back was skillfully tossed in the way of Mac Allister by Mwepu, and the Argentine left with the outside flying his right shoe to beat Pickford.
Back came Everton, who had lost half of his league home games in 2021, reducing the gap again.
Benitez immediately turned to Salomon Rondon instead of Kenny, and it was the Venezuelan’s nice touch and flank that got Gordon rolling in the last 10 minutes, but this time he could only overtake the near post.
The home crowd sensed that another unlikely point could be negated, but when Rondon blew Andre Gomes’ cross high into Gwladys Street, all hopes of a dramatic draw were linked.
Alexis Mac Allister’s opener in 2 minutes 43 seconds was Brightons fast lst away goal in the Premier League of all time and third fastest in the entire competition.
Mac Allister has scored four goals in his 14 Premier League games this season, three more than in his two previous seasons combined (1 goal in 30 appearances).
Both teams will be in the FA Cup next weekend, with Everton traveling to Hull City next Saturday. Kick-off at 5:30 p.m.
Another Saturday, another chance to win £ 250,000 with Super 6. Play for free, participation until 3:00 p.m.
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