Is it too early to talk about the title, Carlo?
It’s their best start in 126 years... and they are playing like true champs
IS IT too early to call Carlo Ance lot ti’ s Everton title con tenders? It’ s not just the record that impresses, seven out of seven in all competitions and 24 goals, but t he balance and conviction in their play.
Skipper Seamus Coleman is rolling back the years, Yerry Mina and Michael Keane were strong at the back with Ben Godfrey about to arrive from Norwich, and further forward Dominic Calvert-Le win and James Rodriguez look like creating and scoring every time they touch the ball.
Calvert- Lewin’s early header, reminiscent of his mentor Duncan Ferguson, was his ninth goal in six games this term. As for James, he has added a wow factor since arriving from Real Madrid.
Yesterday he scored twice and set one up for Colombian World Cup team-mate Mina.
Evertonians denied a chance of seeing their new hero live will be relishing the prospect of watching him from the Gwladys Street. He will get some reception.
It’s the first time Everton have won their first four league games since 1969-70, when they finished champions. They have won their opening seven matches in all for the first time since 1894-95.
Not until the next fixture, a Merseyside derby against Liverpool, can we truly determine Everton’s chances, but England No1 Jordan Pickford looks their weakest link at the moment.
He dropped a clanger to gift Neal Maupay an undeserved Brighton equaliser after 41 minutes and he’ll be relieved his team-mate sat the other end ensured it wasn’t costly.
Gareth Southgate is loyal to his man but neither he nor Ancelotti can ignore repeated mistakes. But the Everton boss is thrilled to be top of the table.
‘ We are really pleased for the start, winning games, showing quality. We have to come back from the international break with t he same spirit,’ he said. ‘ Our attacking was good. We defended well with the low block. We played a complete game.’
On Pickford, he added: ‘He did a mistake but nothing happened. We have three points more. This is the most important part.’
Brighton had hit the woodwork five times in their previous league game against Manchester United but there was no way this beating could be deemed unlucky.
Mat Ryan was called into action to deny Coleman and CalvertLe win even before Everton’s No 9 deservedly headed his side in front after 16 minutes.
Gylfi Sigurdsson was the provider with a brilliant cross from the byline and CalvertLe win capitalise dona slip from marker Ben White to hang in the air brilliantly and nod home.
The finish underlined his current confidence following a first England call up.
Everton received a set back when Richarlison hobbled off following a meaty challenge by Tariq Lamptey.
But Brighton’ s unexpected equaliser was entirely the fault of Pickford, who has come under scrutiny for a few mistakes this season. Lamptey’s deep cross was volleyed into the ground by Lean dr oT ross a rd and the England goalkeeper should have caught the ball as it bounced up.
Whether due to a lack of concentration, persistent rain or a lack of extra height, Pickford allowed the tame effort to slip out of his hands and Maupay was in the right place to swivel and score from six yards, his sharp finish finally crossing the line between Keane’s legs.
It was the visitors’ first shot on target and Maupay’s fourth goal in four games.
Ever ton could have moped after dominating but instead they showed character to retake the lead in first-half injury-time.
Coleman won a free- kick and from there the goal was made in Colombia. Rodriguez curled an excellent free-kick into the danger zone and Mina powered in a header.
Everton started the second half fast as well. Calvert-Lewin had a s hot charged down before he turned provider for Everton’s third goal with the move of the match after 52 minutes.
He played in Alex Iwobi whose cutback to Rodrguez was dispatched by the Colombian, who arced his body brilliantly to connect with a half-volley. Ancelotti is in danger of spoiling the reputation that Italians have for being defensive managers.
Everton looked as if they could score every time they broke and added a fourth when Rodriguez kept his eye on the ball and sidefooted Abdou lay eDou co ure’ s pull-back.
‘We were disappointed with the goals we conceded. We contributed to our own problems and that’s not a good thing against a team of Everton’s quality,’ said Brighton boss Graham Potter, whose team have had beastly fixture list so far having already faced Chelsea and United.
Rodriguez wasn’t given the chance of a hat-trick, making way for Theo Walcott 12 minutes from the end, and Brighton surprisingly completed the scoring with a thunderbolt from Yves Bissouma. This time Pickford was blameless.