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Three key Everton games of 2020

By Matt Townsend

Everton's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti gestures to supporters on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 12, 2020. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Everton's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti gestures to supporters on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 12, 2020. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Everton
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 17: Sadio Mane of Liverpool battles for possession with Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 17, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

Saturday 17 October 2020: Everton 2 Liverpool 2

As the 2020-21 season got underway, the Toffees started superbly and won the first four Premier League games of the campaign. The summer signings had all integrated really well and the team hit their stride from the opening day.

Then came the first international break, which came just as the side was generating real momentum. In truth Everton hadn’t played any top teams so far (apart from a rusty Tottenham on opening day) so when in their first match back they faced the new champions and their greatest rivals in the derby, it was their first real test of the season.

Liverpool weren’t in great form before the break and had suffered a humiliating 7-2 thrashing by Aston Villa in their last match, but it was unlikely they would be that off the boil and as vulnerable again.

In fact they dominated the game playing the sort of high-tempo, slick, attacking football that had proved so unstoppable last season and put Everton under huge pressure right from the first whistle, scoring the opener after just three minutes.

It was a hugely controversial match as first Jordan Pickford clattered into Virgil Van Djik forcing him off the field and then late in the game Richarlison lunged into his fellow Brazilian Thiago and got himself sent off.

This was a hard, physical contest, an old-fashioned derby and Liverpool’s players were hardly angelic either despite the predictable pass they got from the national media afterwards.

A challenge from Van Djik minutes into the game hurt James Rodriguez and although he carried on playing it would ultimately cost him and the Toffees. And in further bad news for the home team, right-back Seamus Coleman had to go off injured in the first-half.

Most importantly though the Blues showed great resolve and determination to come back twice against the champion Reds and secure a hard-fought draw that had looked very unlikely early on.

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