How steely Benitez brought the good times back to Goodison

It may be that Rafael Benitez’s hands-on training ground approach, allied to his renowned organisational skills and tactical acumen, will work better with Everton’s permanent underachievers than Carlo Ancelotti’s more relaxed approach.

Two half-time tactical tweaks changed the pattern of the game as they beat Southampton 3-1 at Goodison Park. Richarlison, who started wide left, had been peripheral but came alive when Benitez switched him into a more central position.

Demarai Gray, who started playing off Dominic Calvert-lewin, moved to the left wing, where he could use his pace, skill and crossing ability to trouble Southampton.

In the centre of defence Michael

Keane and Mason Holgate had a torrid time in the first half against the pace of Adam Armstrong and Che Adams. But they looked far more comfortable when Benitez moved Keane to the right-sided central defensive position, with Holgate switched to the left.

Crossing

Everton were crying out for width and pace and Benitez completed some shrewd business by signing Gray from Bayer Leverkusen for £1.7million and Andros Townsend on a free from Crystal Palace.

Benitez knows crossing makes life difficult for defenders. Everton delivered 17 of them in all – from both flanks – which was five more than their average in a game last season. Apart from Gray and Townsend, full-backs Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman both have the ability to cross well. Richarlison did not even look before sending over the ball for Calvert-lewin to score Everton’s third with a diving header.

Winning mentality

Everton failed to come back from many losing positions under Ancelotti last season. After a bright start on Saturday it looked like it might be the same old story when Armstrong scored his debut goal following a mistake by Keane.

But they showed their character and determination. Richarlison’s goal two minutes into the second half was crucial to get the crowd behind them.

Asked what he told his team at half-time, Benitez said: “The first thing was giving them confidence, trying to adapt to the changes. We could be better in the wide areas, we played better in defence.”

Thick skin

Benitez is no stranger to walking into a hostile environment, as when he took over as Chelsea’s interim manager in 2012 following a long, intense rivalry during his tenure at Liverpool, but he knows it is all about results – like this one.