Everton 1 Leicester City 1: Blues salvage a very late point

After being behind from almost the opening minute of last night’s match against Leicester, Everton scored an equaliser deep into injury time to salvage a point from the game.

I felt going into this match that Everton really needed to win given their situation and upcoming fixtures. But, in the end a point is of course better than nothing.

After the first half an hour or so that prospect would have seemed very unlikely as Leicester City dominated the opening period of the game.

And, had they scored two or three further goals it wouldn’t have been unjustified, although depsite controlling the contest they didn’t actually create many clear-cut chances.

However in the end, it was actually the Toffees’ who probably should have won the match with Richarlison guilty of missing several gilt-edged second half chances including a free header in the box that had he got on target, would almost certainly have been a goal.

To be fair to the Brazilian he worked hard as usual and of course did finally find the back of the net with that late scuffed effort in extra-time.

The Blues’ started slowly and looked strangely subdued after the kick-off. The visitors were much sharper and had got the opening goal after just five minutes.

Everton were unable to respond and were largely chasing shadows for the first thirty minutes as the Foxes dominated and controlled the ball.

James Maddison was especially dangerous and at half-time there only looked likely to be one winner.

After the break the home side did actually improve particularly after the intoduction of substitutes Dele Alli and Salomon Rondon.

I was critical of the decision by Frank Lampard to sign Alli as I felt that Everton’s priority should have been adding another defensive midfielder rather than a player who although obviously very talented, has been way below his best for a while now.

And, the former Tottenham and England star hasn’t exactly been pulling up trees since moving to Merseyside on deadline day.

To be fair to him he hasn’t actually played much, but the feeling that he had become distracted by fame and fortune in London and has lost his way as a player was still there.

Anyway, last night we saw glimpses of the sort of ability the still young 25-year-old possesess. He was bright, creative and industrious when he came on.

If the Toffees’ can get the best out of this player they will have a top quality footballer on their hands and he could possibly play a key role in the future development of this team.

Alli it was who provided the ball from out wide which was flicked on by Rondon and finally put away by Richarlison for the Blues’ equaliser.

Rondon had also played his part when he got on the pitch and proved an effective target man allowing Richarlison to feed off him.

Given how ineffective Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been since his return from injury means perhaps Rondon will have more opportunity in the upcoming games.

In the end therefore, it was another point to add to Everton’s still inadequate total as the team tries to inch closer to potential survival. But, on reflection it’s hard to know whether to see last night’s match as a point gained or ultimately two lost given all the chances wasted.

One thing though is that this was great opportunity to put real distance between Everton and the clubs below them in the table with a win.

At any rate I still think the Toffees’ will need other results to go their way and possibly points away from home as well to stay up. Well, they can start with their next away game only the small matter of a Merseyside derby at Anfield against a rampant Liverpool side going for four trophies.