Everton returned to winning ways in the Premier League after easing past Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his first goal of the season for Everton before Anthony Gordon doubled his side’s lead in the 63rd minute with a tap in following a VAR review. Substitute Dwight McNeil wrapped up the win with six minutes remaining.
The victory moves the Blues up to 11th place, level on 13 points with Palace, who drop to 12th. And below is how the national media and the Liverpool ECHO reported on the game.
JOE THOMAS: Everton project just got perfect restart under Frank Lampard after three magic touches
CHRIS BEESLEY: Everton deliver as VAR and fisticuffs cannot hide clear Crystal Palace truth
'An aggressive Everton'
Aadam Patel of the Mail on Sunday wrote: “This wasn’t quite all or nothing as it was when these two sides met in May when Everton pulled off a remarkable comeback to secure their Premier League status. Nevertheless the pressure was on Lampard, going into the game on the back of three consecutive defeats and surprisingly yet courageously, the Everton boss opted for an unchanged side from their midweek defeat at Newcastle.
“Lampard had called for managers to be given more time following the sacking of Steven Gerrard, lauding Mikel Arteta’s job at Arsenal as an example and in his programme notes asked for his side to improve on their cutting edge after a poor showing at St James’ Park. That, they certainly did in front of their jubilant home support - with their three goals as many as they’d managed in their previous five home games.
“Everton failed to get a shot on target in their last two outings but they raced out of the blocks here, playing with intent and a tempo that Vieira’s Palace simply couldn’t handle. Just eleven minutes in, Calvert-Lewin slotted home after an aggressive Everton press led by their No 9 himself.”
'An eye-catching win in a sometimes feisty affair'
Paul Joyce of the Sunday Times wrote: “Not for the first time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin would depart Goodison Park with the adulation of the home supporters ringing in his ears following a goal against Crystal Palace.
“Yet where his crucial intervention at the end of last term preserved Everton’s top flight status, so he will hope the opening goal in an excellent victory on Saturday serves to signal an overdue upturn in his individual fortunes.
“There was the bonus of his swashbuckling cameo coming in front of England coach Gareth Southgate, while two other Englishmen, Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil, sealed an eye-catching win in a sometimes feisty affair.”
'He was given a standing ovation'
Emma Sanders of BBC Sport wrote: “Lampard called for his side to show more "bravery" and have more of a "clinical edge" in the box in his pre-match programme notes.
“They were quick to put their stamp on things, pressing high and intensely, forcing Palace into mistakes at the back and pushing them deep into their own half.
“ Amadou Onana was particularly impressive in midfield, breaking up play and switching possession effectively, while Gordon was busy down the right-hand side throughout.
“It was that side of the pitch that Everton's opener came from when Calvert-Lewin put pressure on Luka Milivojevic.
“The Palace skipper lost possession and when Alex Iwobi fizzed it into Calvert-Lewin's feet, he did the rest with a slick turn to beat Marc Guehi and capped it off with a composed finish in front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate.
“Calvert-Lewin's cool opener was just the kind of impact Lampard had hoped for and he was given a standing ovation when he came off later in the second half.”
'No sign of three successive defeats affecting Everton’s confidence'
Andy Hunter of the Observer wrote: “Calvert-Lewin’s breakthrough, on only his second start of the season, reflected the performance of both teams. There was no sign of three successive defeats affecting Everton’s confidence as they pressed Palace into submission early on. The striker hunted down Luka Milivojevic deep inside the visitors’ half to steal possession from a hesitant Palace captain. The dirty work done, Calvert-Lewin immediately set off for the opposition box to receive a return ball from Alex Iwobi. His first touch took him away from a tumbling Marc Guéhi and created space for a precise, low finish beyond Vicente Guaita. It was the forward’s first goal since securing Everton’s Premier League status with a diving header against Palace 156 days ago.
“Palace awoke from their lethargy midway through the first half but rarely tested Jordan Pickford. When Odsonne Édouard breached the home defence and looked to release Wilfried Zaha, Séamus Coleman, 13 years to the day since his Everton debut, showed excellent awareness and pace to intervene. The veteran dominated Zaha all afternoon and denied him with a superb tackle inside the area when Palace made a determined start to the second half. Conor Coady followed suit with a vital touch to divert Eberechi Eze’s effort wide when he looked set to convert Jordan Ayew’s cross to the near post.
“Everton brought themselves the comfort of a second goal after a flowing move instigated by Pickford’s brave pass out to Coleman. Calvert-Lewin found Iwobi, Demarai Gray found Amadou Onana, who released Vitalii Mykolenko down the left. The Ukraine international’s low drive was spilled by Guaita into the path of Anthony Gordon, who tapped into an empty goal. The winger was clearly onside when Mykolenko shot yet was initially flagged offside. VAR set the record straight, much to the delight of Idrissa Gana Gueye, who sprayed a water bottle into Gordon’s face.”
'Calvert-Lewin provided everything Everton and Frank Lampard have been missing'
Joe Thomas of the Liverpool ECHO wrote: “With his first touch he stole the ball from a breaking Luka Milivojevic. With his second he flicked, delicately, the pass from Alex Iwobi around Marc Guehi. With his third he slotted his shot beyond the onrushing Vicente Guaita before wheeling away to receive the adoration of the home fans.
“In just three touches Dominic Calvert-Lewin provided everything Everton and Frank Lampard have been missing throughout his tortuous absence. It was the breakthrough Everton had been seeking for so long. Not in this match, but in the wider Lampard project. And it had to come against Crystal Palace, in front of the Gwladys Street crowd - of course it did. Five months on from his last Premier League goal, which came at the same end of Goodison Park, against the same opposition, he had the same crowd receiving him with adoration. That thumping header under the Goodison lights in May is one of the most important goals in his club's modern history. The importance of this strike, after 11 minutes, may pale in significance. But in Calvert-Lewin's desire to win the ball back, and in the intricate interchanges between himself, Iwobi and Amadou Onana, it embodied so much of what Lampard wants to instill in Everton's future.
“After the defeat against Newcastle United in midweek, Conor Coady said the dressing room inquest that followed focused on the need to be more assertive off the ball, more confident on it, and more ruthless when chances did come. This goal was a jigsaw in which determination, confidence and ruthlessness were all pieces of the puzzle.”
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