After a really entertaining match at Old Trafford, Everton scored a last-minute equaliser in added time to secure a 3-3 draw against Manchester United last night.
This was always likely to be a tough examination of Everton and their credentials. Despite their inconsistency United are a dangerous team with plenty of attacking quality. Being able to compete against the leading sides especially away from home, is part of the next step up for this team.
Too often in the past the Blues have failed to turn up for these matches and haven’t shown enough fight and determination to get something from the game.
Carlo Ancelotti selected a slightly different team from Wednesday picking Tom Davies in a midfield three alongside Aboulaye Doucoure and Andre Gomes. All had a fine game with Davies perhaps his best in a royal blue shirt for a long time.
The other significant change from the win at Leeds was the return of James Rodriguez with Ancelotti deciding he wanted his creative qualities from the start. The Colombian star also showed his class during the match.
The Toffees started well and were competing with their hosts before they then suddenly fell behind. Marcus Rashford put in a good ball from wide and Edison Cavani headed home for his third goal against the Blues in his short United career.
More from Prince Rupert's Tower
- Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
- Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
- Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
- More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
- Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions
Goalkeeper Robin Olsen’s positioning and reactions in the game were at times questionable. He had his poorest match since joining the Blues but still Cavani’s header was a good one.
United’s opener seemed to affect Everton’s concentration. Not long after that the home team added a second. The scorer was that other United player who always finds the net against the Toffees, Bruno Fernandes, who fired home a brilliant shot from outside the area the ball dipping over the head of Olsen.
The Blues were now on the back foot and a third goal for United would not have been unexpected. However, the away team didn’t fold and continued to battle until half-time. And Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a good chance to pull a goal back before the break but couldn’t take it. His time would come later on.
Everton began the second half superbly well and then in the space of four minutes they were back in the match.
After a fine run from Calvert-Lewin the England striker pulled the ball back across goal. It seemed like David de Gea would comfortably deal with it but he pushed the ball out and Doucoure was first to react stabbing it home.
Then just a few minutes later following another example of indecisive defending by United, Rodriguez found himself with the ball after Doucoure’s pass and fired home an excellent shot from the edge of the area for his first goal away from Goodison Park this season.
Suddenly it was game on again and the Toffees were right in it. But then after hauling themselves back intio it, they conced once more from a set-piece as Scott MacTominay scored from another header that might have been defended better.
Now it was a question of did Everton have the mentality and the ability to come back for the second time in the game?
In the end the answer was yes. Ancelotti brought on three attacking players to provide more energy and impetus to the Blues and with just seconds remaining Lucas Digne took a free-kick, which Calvert-Lewin pounced on to poke the equaliser past de Dea.
An excellent point that feels like three for Everton and that is four points gained from two difficult away games in quick succession. Is this a sign that maybe this Toffees side is genuinly developing the charater and the quality to consistently compete at the top of the Premier League?