Everton put their nightmare performance against Tottenham at Goodison Park behind them as they responded to that horror show with an emphatic win against Burnley.
It was critical that Everton found a way to bounce back from that dreadful showing on Sunday and the team did just that.
There were plenty of Blues players under pressure after that debacle at the grand old lady and by and large they came back well with solid performances across the park.
Starting with keeper Jordan Pickford going through a defence that was strong and resolute to midfield where there was plenty of industry and creativity and an attack that took their chances.
It’s true that Burnley hardly represent the toughest of challenges, but nevertheless Everton did what was required and came away with the much-needed points.
The Blues travelled up the motorway to north Lancashire on the back of that Spurs trouncing and the loss at Manchester City. A win was desperately needed to restore some confidence and to stop the rot.
Crucially the Toffees began really quickly and got a very early goal, something that is often so important in Premier League matches.
After Yerry Mina’s 3rd minute strike, Everton dominated the first half and went three goals up to take control of the game. And when Burnley did pull one back and improved in the second half, the Blues were very solid at the back repelling every other Burnley attack.
Burnley didn’t really put the Everton defence under the kind of pressure that they have experienced against top sides like City and Spurs. So although this was of course a welcome victory, it doesn’t tell us a lot more about where the side really are.
The Toffees have been extremely inconsistent recently and despite this win there is little sign that the team are near to reaching the consistent excellence to challenge for major honours or to have the chance of breaking into the top four anytime soon.
For example Pickford had little concrete to do for most of the game so we were spared the kind of lapses that cost the Blues a point at Anfield and contributed to the awful result at home to Spurs. He’s been a good purchase overall but the England international must cut out the errors that are proving so costly.
I’m also still not convinced by the switch to a back-three, it almost seems that manager Marco Silva is just trying to shoehorn all his centre-backs into the team. While a back-three can sometimes work, I’d rather have a stronger midfield that can pressure and press the opposition.
in addition as I’ve said before, I feel that Everton must look at other options at right back. Although Seamus Coleman had a better game, again he had little to do as the Blues were usually on the front foot against their struggling opponents.
But Coleman has had too many poor outings this season and the contrast with the outstanding Lucas Digne at left-back is stark.
When James McCarthy finally comes back from injury he might offer another option in midfield to support Idrissa Gueye, Andre Gomes and Tom Davies and help the Toffees better control games, something that might also help the side defend with more consistency.
In attack Everton were sharp and generally took their chances. The decision to drop Richarlison was a little unexpected, but it worked as Dominic Calvert-Lewin was bright and industrious. But it still feels as though the side are grappling without a coherent plan and trying to find an all-round centre-forward or a system that works. Although Richarlison is a very promising talent and Calvert-Lewin is quick, physical and hard-working neither yet convinces.
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It’s very difficult to find an all-round striker like a Diego Costa or even a Romelu Lukaku who have pace, strength, technique and the ability to finish consistently. I’ve mentioned in earlier articles that the Toffees might be better off looking to a more fluid and interchangeable front three without necessarily having a traditional centre-forward type.
But it might mean that the team have to sacrifice a number ten like Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has been one of the side’s more consistent performers. That would be controversial.
The coming transfer window is surely going to see the Blues active again in a bid to strengthen a side that still needs considerable surgery.
Anyway Everton at least finished what has been a roller-coaster of a year in 2018 with a win. Let’s hope 2019 is better and that Liverpool don’t win the title!