Richarlison’s stoppage-time equaliser against Leicester City helped Everton climb further away from the relegation zone.
The Blues arrived into the game three points above the bottom three and fell to a disastrous start when Harvey Barnes put Brendan Rodgers’s side ahead inside five minutes at Goodison. Though he turned out to be the hero on the night, Richarlison could have eased Everton fears earlier in the match as the forward missed two clear chances to level the scores.
However, the Brazil international combined with Salomon Rondon in added time to bundle the ball into the far corner, much to the delight of the home crowd. Here’s what the national media, as well our Everton reporter Joe Thomas, had to say about Wednesday night’s clash.
ANALYSIS: Frank Lampard handed new midfield problem but two unlikely stars emerge
RATINGS: Richarlison good but five stars poor against Leicester
Andy Hunter of the Guardian wrote: “The verdict on whether Richarlison made a crucial or costly contribution against Leicester may not be returned until Everton’s final league position is decided but, having stared at a damaging defeat from the fifth minute to the 92nd, Frank Lampard understandably took the optimistic view.
“Richarlison could have had a hat‑trick in a game where Leicester’s superiority in possession failed to translate into clearcut opportunity beyond Harvey Barnes’s early goal. The Brazil international had to settle for a scuffed stoppage-time equaliser instead, bringing relief to a tense Goodison Park with the 50th goal of his Everton career.”
Richard Jolly of the Independent wrote: “Everton’s season has been beset by injuries but they can be grateful for injury time at Goodison Park. Their winners against Arsenal and Newcastle came deep in added time and, with 91 minutes on the clock, Leicester were leading.
“Then Richarlison scuffed in a first home league goal since December. Everton may not have deserved a point, but it may prove priceless.
“It moved them four clear of Burnley and took them into territory they have not charted since September: they have gone two games unbeaten. And if that illustrates how sorry their season has been, Goodison may wonder if a corner has been turned.”
Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph wrote: “What Frank Lampard’s Everton lack in quality, they have at least compensated for in spirit in their hour of need. Never has a point felt so like a win for the Merseysiders.
“It was the 92nd minute of another excruciatingly tense Goodison Park evening and Everton’s supporters were not only thinking about the painful reality of the here and now of a likely defeat to Leicester City. The sense of impending doom was tangible given the forthcoming fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea, audible in every howl from the Main Stand to ‘get it effin’ forward’.
“Then Richarlison received Anthony Gordon’s cross, his shot deflected off Ricardo past Kasper Schmeichel, and Lampard had another emotional Goodison finale to savour."
Dominic King of the Daily Mail wrote: “ Frank Lampard paced up and down, the stress of the moment etched all over his face. He turned to Anthony Taylor, the fourth official, and asked how long Everton had left to save themselves.
“Taylor indicated that five minutes would be added on. Time was running out for Everton and it was an appropriate way to talk about the night and their season as a whole. They could have been dead and buried by the time Taylor raised his board but hope remained.
“How they made the most of it. In the 92nd minute, Dele Alli chased a ball to the byline and cut a cross back into the area for fellow substitute Salomon Rondon; the Venezuelan attempted a flick on, Richarlison arrived at the back post and squeezed his 50th Everton goal in at the back post.
“Everton are making a habit of these last-gasp escapes – they won a game against Newcastle last month in similar circumstances – and the enormity of this point should not be understated. There is still much work to be done if they are to stay up but, right now, the change in mood is colossal.”
Joe Thomas of the Liverpool Echo wrote: “Three hours before kick-off Richarlison tweeted his goalscoring record. Taking centre stage of the graphic, which depicted how many he had scored for club and country, was the famous crest of Everton.
“While he - or whoever was manning his social media accounts at 4.45pm on Wednesday - marked his feats there was one glaring, unachieved landmark within his grasp: His fiftieth strike for the Blues.
“This has been far from a vintage season for the 24-year-old. Few will be able to walk away from this campaign without regrets. But in recent weeks, as Everton have needed a hero, he has emerged.”
