Toffees set the pace but Ancelotti faces a problem in Pickford
IS IT too early to call Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton title contenders? It’s not just the record that impresses, seven wins out of seven in all competitions and 24 goals, but the balance and conviction in their play, too.
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-Lewin 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.
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-mates at the other end ensured it wasn’t costly.
Everton boss Ancelotti said: ‘We are really pleased for the start, winning games, showing quality. 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. This is the most important part.’
Calvert-Lewin deservedly headed his side in front after 16 minutes. Gylfi Sigurdsson was the provider with a brilliant cross from the byeline and Calvert-Lewin capitalised on a slip from marker Ben White to hang in the air and nod home.
Everton received a setback when Richarlison hobbled off following a meaty challenge by Tariq Lamptey.
But Brighton’s unexpected equaliser was entirely the fault of Pickford. Lamptey’s deep
cross was volleyed into the ground by Leandro Trossard and the England keeper should have caught the ball as it bounced up. But he allowed the tame effort to slip out of his hands and Maupay swivelled and scored from six yards.
Everton 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 a delivery into the danger zone and Mina powered in a header.
Calvert-Lewin turned provider for Everton’s third with the move of the match after 52 minutes. He played in Alex Iwobi, whose cutback to Rodriguez was dispatched beautifully on the half volley.
Everton added a fourth when Rodriguez kept his eye on the ball and sidefooted Abdoulaye Doucoure’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.
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 effort Yves Bissouma.