Toffees give the rest something to chew on
EVERTON cruised into second spot in the Premier League with a victory over Middlesbrough that underlined the prospect of a double Merseyside title challenge this season.
After Liverpool won impressively at Chelsea on Friday night, the Blues came from behind to overpower Boro in a game spiced by controversial goals.
Jurgen Klopp has had all manner of praise for the way his team has started the season, yet Ronald Koeman’s men are three points ahead of their city rivals.
It’s the first time ever they’ve won four of their opening five Premier League matches and their best start since 1978.
A Maarten Stekelenburg own-goal – unusually allowed in an era when goalkeepers get excessive protection – gave Boro the lead but Everton responded with three inside 25 minutes.
Gareth Barry on his 600th Premier League appearance got them level, Seamus Coleman put them 2-1 up and Romelu Lukaku, who scored an 11-minute hat-trick at Sunderland last week, poached the third.
Aitor Karanka’s team had started brightly and a killer of a swinging free-kick by Gaston Ramires in the sixth minute was missed by four different Boro players as they charged in.
Phil Jagielka headed over at the near post from a Kevin Mirallas corner as Everton responded.
Ross Barkley, hooked at half-time at Sunderland because he gave the ball away too much, was given another chance to convince Koeman he’s up to the job. And in the 19th minute, having not put a single pass astray, he stung Victor Valdes’ hands with a powerful 25-yarder. The Spanish keeper was lucky that his parry didn’t fall to Lukaku’s feet.
In the 21st minute George Friend slung over a cross from the left, Alvaro Negredo rose to challenge Maarten Stekelenburg and the keeper pushed the ball over the line.
Everton screamed for a foul – Stekelenburg was yellow-carded for his protests – but referee Lee Mason judged that the goal should stand.
Replays showed that Negredo headed the keeper’s arm as he attempted to collect the ball.
It was a goal reminiscent of the one Andy Gray scored for Everton in the Cup Final against Watford, so perhaps they shouldn’t complain too much. Boro’s lead, however, lasted just three minutes, Barry equalising at the back post after the visitors’ defence made a hash of clearing a Kevin Mirallas corner.
In the midst, though, there was a high foot from Ashley Williams on Valdes that was just as crucial to the outcome as Negredo’s challenge.
It was a big moment for the veteran midfielder on his landmark appearance.
He’s now just 32 behind all-time record holder Ryan Giggs and could hold the title outright by the end of the season.
Barkley and Yannick Bolasie shot and headed just over as Everton stepped up their game. Daniel Ayala went into the book for an attempted hack on Barkley.
It was little surprise when Coleman gave them the lead three minutes from the break with an individual effort, cutting in square from the right and burying a left-foot shot into the bottom corner.
And in stoppage time Everton put clear blue water between themselves and Boro as Bolasie swung in the ball from the right and Lukaku – who was just onside – got the faintest of touches to beat Valdes.
There was still time in the half for Barry to collect his 113th career booking – one Premier League record he has to himself and is likely to keep!
Barkley, very obviously attempting to convince his boss of his quality, forced another save from Valdes early in the second period.
With the game effectively in the bag after that first-half blitz and with Lukaku hobbling off, Koeman’s men showed another talent essential in title challengers – game management.
Newcomer Idrissa Gana Gueye and the 35-year-old Barry snuffed out every threat before it reached the back four.
Neither keeper was extended throughout the second 45 minutes but for Everton the job had been impressively done and dusted early.