Great start from Everton
The first goal in this Monday night Premier League fixture came after just 9 minutes thanks to a composed finish by Everton striker, Richarlison.
After fellow striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin won his aerial duel with Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu, the ball was picked up by Gylfi Sigurdsson near the edge of Southampton’s box.
The Everton captain then played a perfectly weighted through ball in-behind the Southampton back-line to Richarlison, who timed his run perfectly.
The Brazilian striker managed to get to the ball before Southampton keeper Fraser Forster, before taking it around the keeper and smashing it into an open net from 6-yards out to mark the only goal of this Premier League fixture.
VAR rules out Everton second
Everton thought they had doubled their lead inside 25 minutes after Michael Keane headed home for the hosts from close-range.
An Everton free-kick from Lucas Digne on the right side of the pitch found Mason Holgate at the back post, who headed it back across goal to Keane before the ball was put into the net by Keane’s head.
However, VAR quickly determined that Holgate was offside when Digne’s free-kick was played, therefore causing the goal to be ruled out – much to Southampton’s relief.
Southampton squandered their best chances
Although Southampton didn’t have any real chances during the first half, they had two glorious opportunities to score late in the second half.
The first of which came in the 84th minute after Moussa Djenepo fired his shot wide.
After nice build-up play at the edge of the Everton box, led by Stuart Armstrong, the midfielder eventually plays the ball into the right side of the box into an unmarked Djenepo’s feet, but his effort is just wide of Jordan Pickford’s right post.
Then in the 90th minute, a superb save from England number 1 Pickford denied Jannik Vestergaard from close-range.
After Armstrong’s shot is deflected and eventually comes off the back of Keane, Vestergaard is quick to get to the loose ball and manages to get a shot towards goal.
However, Pickford was quick to close down the defender and made a crucial save to deny a late Southampton equaliser.
Everton held on to grab all 3 points against Southampton in this Monday night Premier League fixture, putting them equal on points with Merseyside rivals, Liverpool, who are above them in 6th place on goal difference.
Meanwhile, this loss for Southampton keeps them just 7 points above the relegation zone in 14th place.
3️⃣ goals in 3️⃣
5️⃣ in his last 5️⃣@richarlison97 up to 11 for the season. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SevBAadhFV— Everton (@Everton) March 1, 2021
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