GET RICH QUICK!
Everton’s £44m man hits a double on debut, but Wolves battle back
RICHARLISON scored twice on his Everton debut but the Merseysiders were unable to hold on to victory with 10 men as Wolves fought back to mark their Premier League return in style.
In an absorbing contest at Molineux, Wolves were inspired by the dazzling 21-year-old midfielder Ruben Neves, who scored his side’s first equaliser with a stunning freekick and then created the second for Raul Jimenez, who was making his debut on loan from Benfica.
Richarlison opened the scoring from close range after 17 minutes — his first goal for nine months — but the match turned when Everton skipper Phil Jagielka was given a straight red approaching half-time for a foul on Diogo Jota.
Neves scored with the resulting set-piece before Richarlison, reunited with manager Marco Silva after a £44million summer move from Watford, restored Everton’s lead in the second half with a classy finish from 12 yards.
But just as Everton looked as if t hey would survive a Wolves onslaught in heavy rain, Neves conjured up another piece of magic on the right to set up Jimenez for an 80th minute header.
Wolves named five Portuguese players to start, a Premier League first. Both managers were also Portuguese and fresh from busy transfer windows. Nuno Espirito Santo gave four of his Wolves signings full debuts, while Silva went with Richarlison but none of his four deadline-day buys.
Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio, wearing No 11, stood up well to save Seamus Coleman’s shot after 10 minutes but he was powerless to st op Everton t aking t he l ead through Richarlison.
The Brazilian, flattened by Matt Doherty, received treatment then delivered the perfect payback from the resulting free-kick. Leighton Baines swung in the ball from the l eft and when Michael Keane headed into the ground, Richarlison, 21, was quickest to react to prod the rebound home.
He had good reason to celebrate. He had failed to score in his last 28 games for Watford before moving to Goodison Park in the summer, a run dating back to last November.
Wolves looked pretty but powderpuff in response. Jordan Pickford, England’s World Cup goalkeeper, made two decent saves from Joao Moutinho and Helder Costa while Richarlison fluffed a pass to Theo Walcott when Everton threatened to score a second on the break.
It was a dribble into the box by Mexican Jimenez that lifted the crowd and had his manager applauding in encouragement.
With the volume raised, the pace quickened, too quick it proved for Everton’s 35-year-old captain Jagielka. After taking a poor first touch, he stretched to retrieve the situation with a tackle on Diogo Joto. His studs were high, he caught the Wolves player on the shin and Joto fell to the turf in agony.
Referee Craig Pawson took a moment to assess the situation before giving Jagielka a red card.
Silva decided to sacrifice Gylfi Sigurdsson in order to send on Mason Holgate to shore up the defence. But Holgate barely had time to take his position when Wolves levelled with the free-kick.
Neves earned a reputation in the Championship last season for scoring spectacular goals and a dozen Pickfords would have struggled to keep out his cracking strike into the top corner from 23 yards. The eruption of noise inside the old gold stadium was fabulous as Wolves fans celebrated their first Premier League goal since Steven Fletcher netted a late consolation in a 3-2 defeat at Wigan in 2012.
As the rain began to tumble in the west Midlands for the second half, Wolves tried to make their manadvantage count.
Doherty’s cross was just too high for Jimenez who was waiting alone in the box and Neves drew applause when another howitzer from long range fizzed over the crossbar.
To Everton’s credit, though put on the back foot, they still had ambitions of nicking the next goal when they could. Patricio showed admirable concentration in the Wolves goal to push away a good shot from Tosun for a corner and Keane missed a header.
Jimenez was able to get a clear run on goal just before the hour mark but Pickford spread himself well and ensured the final shot hit his body. Tosun and Richarlison both held their head in their hands after they combined only for Wal- cott to miskick Richarlison’s knockback in the area.
They need not have worried. After 67 minutes, Richarlison struck again in brilliant fashion.
Baines fed Tosun down the left and after the Turkish forward played it round the corner with a delightful flick, Richarlison broke into his stride, took two touches with left foot before bending his finish past Patricio with his right.
This Wolves team have terrific character though and for the second time they clawed themselves level. Once again, the magical right foot of Neves was responsible, spinning a cross onto the head of Jimenez, who powered his header past Pickford from six yards.