Richarlison, Neves emerge as potential EPL stars

LONDON: The Wolverhampton Wanderers-Everton match saw two 21-year-olds took the keys to the Premier League door and unlocked potential breakthrough campaigns.

Richarlison began repaying his £44 million (RM230 million) fee with a pugnacious performance that brought two goals and nearly carried 10-man Everton to victory.

Wolves salvaged a draw thanks to Ruben Neves, who scored, assisted and assumed responsibility for pushing his newly-promoted side on in the face of defeat.

On its return to the big time after six years away, Molineux was treated to a contest that pulsed with vitality, incident and artistry. The pre-game fireworks display was outdone for sparkle by the action on the field.

At the centre of it all were Richarlison and Neves. Despite their tender years they were totems of their teams, playing with a courage it is impossible to learn.

Everton manager Marco Silva sounded confident that Richarlison’s scoring will continue but called on teammates to help.

“We have to be calm, we are talking about a player who is 21 years old,” he said.

“Of course he is a boy I know very well. He learns every day. He comes here to work very hard. But you have to support him. This match was Richarlison, next weekend I hope will be the others, Theo (Walcott), Cenk Tosun, or Oumar Niasse. Because at a big club like us, not only one player has to get the result.”

Neves illustrated his importance to Wolves during their Championship title campaign and it was exciting to witness him continue that form into the top flight.

Like his Italian idol Andrea Pirlo, Neves demanded possession and tried to tease apart the opposition’s defence.

He attempted 93 passes — 31 more than midfield partner Joao Moutinho — and had 111 touches, more than any other player on the pitch. It was his cross with 10 minutes to go that set up Raul Jimenez’s equaliser.

“My first goal in the Premier League, but the most important thing was the result,” Neves said. “We didn’t want one point, we wanted three. We have to keep working.”