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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 – DECEMBER 12: Allan of Everton (C) battles for possession with Mateo Kovacic (R) and Ngolo Kante of Chelsea (L) during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park on December 12, 2020 in Liverpool, England. A limited number of spectators (2000) are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

Saturday 12 December 2020: Everton 1 Chelsea 0

Was that derby draw an indicator that the team had finally found the resolve and character to succeed in tough situations?

Later in the season however it didn’t seem as though the team had really turned that corner as they slumped to three consecutive defeats and four in six matches.

The team was lacking confidence, was leaking goals despite different defensive combinations being tried and were struggling to create and score goals without the influence of their two South American forwards, both of whom were absent due to injury and suspension respectively.

After a dull, drab 1-1 draw at struggling Burnley, Everton next faced a critical run of games before Christmas as the Premier League moved into the always hectic and difficult holiday period of fixture congestion.

The first match in this mini-run was at home to a Chelsea side who were in great form and scoring plenty of goals. So how would Ancelotti overcome his team’s defensive weaknesses and offer an attacking threat as well?

For this match the manager unveiled a new-look team built on a back four comprising Mason Holgate, Micheal Keane, Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey.

This defence was dynamic and rock-solid and was the foundation for a really strong team performance in which the Blues worked hard and played with a real commitment and determination to win.

They did just that with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s first-half penalty. Ancelotti had his revenge and the Toffees secured just their second clean sheet of the season after the opening day win at Spurs.

Since that win, Everton have only conceded one goal in the Premier League and have climbed back into the top four ready to hopefully push on in 2021.

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