EVERTON 2
LEICESTER 1 Cracker from Iceland star is cream for the Toffees
GYLFI SIGURDSSON continued his red-hot form as Marco Silva took a swipe at Sam Allardyce by claiming Everton are now playing to the star’s strengths.
Sigurdsson smashed a spectacular late screamer to fire the Toffees to victory after Wes Morgan’s latest red-card nightmare.
Richarlison volleyed Everton ahead and Ricardo Pereira levelled before the break – but £40million summer signing Richarlison stretched Morgan all afternoon.
The Leicester captain collected two yellow cards for fouls on the lively Brazilian, the second in the 63rd minute. And it handed Everton the impetus to decide what had been a tight game.
Sigurdsson settled it with his fifth goal of the season in the 77th minute – and his fourth in as many games – after a superb turn and shot.
The Icelander lashed in a spectacular dipping right-foot effort from more than 25 yards to beat Kasper Schmeichel.
It was the type of quality which persuaded Everton to pay a club-record £45m for Sigurdsson last summer from Swansea.
He only scored six goals under previous Goodison Park bosses Ronald Koeman and Allardyce, but looks set to soon eclipse that tally under Silva.
Silva said: “Gylfi showed his quality in that moment.
“I know his quality. He is playing in a different role.
“Our style is completely different to the style from last season.
“It fits really differently into his profile as a player.
“If you have a player like Gylfi and are always playing direct balls and preparing for the second balls it is not for him.
“If you can create and build a style of play to fit, of course it will help him.
“But Gylfi is working really hard and preparing to play with intensity.” Morgan, meanwhile, was sent off for the second time in three games but Foxes boss Claude Puel (below) said: “The second yellow was tough to accept and this changed the game. Wes is experienced and was unlucky with both his sendings off.” Everton took the lead in the seventh minute after brilliant play from Brazilian winger Bernard, who was making his