Toffees have top KC, but no case for their defence
LAURENCE RABINOWITZ is fast becoming Everton’s most important signing.
Rabinowitz doesn’t score penalties, save shots or make tackles. He is 63, after all. But the eminent King’s Counsel, who led the Merseysiders’ legal fight against the 10-point deduction levied against them for failing the Premier League’s financial regulations, could end up becoming a Goodison saviour.
It’s on days like these that the four points the so-called ‘Super Silk’ managed to claw back during the week appear more and more likely to be the difference between redemption or relegation.
Even then, his skills might not prove to be enough. Not when Sean Dyche’s team can conspire to lose like this.
Despite letting a lead slip, they were on course for another precious point – but were breached twice in added time and have now gone 10 games without a win after Tomas Soucek (right, with Alphonse Areola) and Edson Alvarez ensured a happy return for David Moyes.
Rabinowitz, who was born on the opposite side of the river in Wallasey, will probably be retained to plead Everton’s case again if a second alleged transgression of profit and sustainability rules brings another points sanction.
If he’s successful, there might be a petition launched to name a stand after him at Everton’s new stadium. Unfortunately, the feelgood factor, following Monday’s announcement that the Toffees had managed to get their punishment reduced, lasted about as long as a light mist on the Mersey.
If Beto had converted a first-half penalty, then this might have been the perfect end to a pivotal week. But Hammers keeper Areola saved his kick and was inspired throughout.
Beto did make some kind of amends with a terrific header that rewarded Everton’s gutsy, front-footed approach after the break.
It was only the second time he has scored in 23 Premier League appearances. And that’s where Dyche’s biggest problem lies.
Everton’s lead lasted just seven minutes, Kurt Zouma’s header finding the top corner after James Ward-prowse had swung in a typically wicked corner.
Areola kept out Dwight Mcneil’s drive from distance and a shot by Beto that was deflected towards the top corner.
Soucek then managed to scramble a close-range Abdoulaye Doucoure effort off the line before Areola twice denied substitute Dominic Calvert-lewin.
It was all set up for the Irons to deliver the hammer blow. Everton had been given a warning about committing too many players forward when they needed Jordan Pickford to deny Mohammed Kudus on the break.
But the England keeper was given no hope when Soucek exploited time and space to curl a glorious right-footer into the top corner as the game ticked into the 92nd minute.
Goodison was emptying like a drain when Alvarez completed the scoring with a lovely lofted finish on another swift counter.
Moyes will be delighted with the victory. Coming on the back of a precious win at the London Stadium over Brentford last Monday, it will further ease the pressure on the Scot.
The travelling fans were singing about being champions of Europe by the end rather than calling for a new manager.
Moyes served Everton for more than a decade, so he knows better than most how Goodison can become a bear pit on afternoons like these.
It doesn’t take much to get Evertonian pulses racing. James Tarkowski’s thunderous tackle on Ward-prowse helped. And when Mcneil’s pass gave Beto the kind of chance that Premier League forwards really should be taking, the volume increased again.
Beto wasted his best chance just before the break.
That ref Craig Pawson failed to spot Zouma intercept Beto’s pass with an outstretched arm was bad enough. But assistant Marc Perry missing the offence from 10 yards was even worse.
VAR Tony Harrington ensured justice was done, but there was no disguise on Beto’s spot-kick and Areola saved with some ease.