Rejuvenated Everton win again

I said I had a good feeling about this game and so it proved as Everton and Carlo Ancelotti continued the club’s recent revival with an excellent win on the road at Newcastle United. 

One of the biggest problems Everton have faced in recent seasons is their terrible away record. it was particularly noticeable under Marco Silva. This is something that any new manager had to change for the team to progress.

Going into today’s match the Blues had only managed one victory on the road this season, away at Southampton when Silva was under almost constant pressure.

For this away match, Ancelotti picked some of the team I had suspected he would, with Tom Davies coming into midfield and Moise Kean getting a rare start-up front. Again the manager’s changes worked well with both having good games.

It was especially pleasing to see Kean being given a real chance and he had his best outing in an Everton shirt, although he still hasn’t scored!

The young Italian forward has obviously responded well to the arrival of his compatriot Ancelotti and produced an energetic and dynamic performance.

With him, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Bernard, Everton have a potentially excellent young attack developing under their new manager.

As I said in my match preview, Newcastle had a bad result at Manchester United on Thursday and i expected a reaction. That was certainly the case in what turned out to be a very lively and entertaining game in the Northeast.

The Toffees edged the early exchanges and went into the lead through Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was again having an outstanding afternoon up front. Although his first goal was a bit fortuitous he was in the right place at the right time, all you can ask from your number 9.

The Magpies responded and came back strongly although Everton generally dealt with it well apart from Andy Caroll, who gave the Blues backline a real test with his physicality.

Newcastle had the ball in the net, but it was rightly ruled out for offside before they scored from a set-piece and a Caroll knock down.

However, unlike in so many recent past times, the Blues don’t drop their shoulders or their work rate these days and almost straight away had re-gained the lead.

Once more it was Calvert-Lewin who delivered. After a lapse from Caroll, Theo Walcott drove forward with the ball, fed Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin made a terrific run and got on the end of a fine cross from the Brazilian. After that Everton never really looked in danger and saw out the rest of the game for another important three points.

The Toffees are now sitting in the dizzying heights of tenth place in the Premier League, only five points off fifth! It seems scarcely believable that this is the same team that conceded five goals in the Merseyside derby and looked almost doomed just less than a month ago.

Now comes the sternest test of the new regime as Everton next face champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on New Year’s day.