Everton Preseason 2018-19

Match Recap: Everton fall 2-3 to Valencia in final preseason game

Last preseason game marks Goodison debut for Silva, Richarlison & Digne

By Calvin@Mr_Faded_Glory Updated Aug 4, 2018, 4:52pm BST

Everton 2-3 Valencia, FT

After a preseason that started with a 22-0 romp, the Blues have come down a few notches and been awful for most of it. Everton might not have been the second-best team on the pitch today, but woeful defensive errors put paid to any chances they had of getting something out of this game.

Marcel Brands and Marco Silva have their work cut-out - bolster the defence and midfield.

Everton 2-3 Valencia, 80’

Ademola Lookman comes on to a big cheer for Richarlison, who gets a big hand too. In the first few minutes he’s on, he doesn’t even look like he’s interested in playing today.

Kieran Dowell replaces Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Everton 2-3 Valencia, 75’

More defensive shambles. Sandro back to help out Seamus Coleman, got in his way and let Valencia forward Wass go free. His shot from outside the box is simply spectacular.

Everton 2-2 Valencia, 73’

More subs - Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies on for Cenk Tosun and Idrissa Gueye respectively.

Everton 2-2 Valencia, 66’

Richarlison came inches away from scoring for the Blues after Digne got forward and fizzed a low cross across the six yard box.

Sandro Ramirez is the next sub, on for Theo Walcott who lasted an hour in his first action of the preseason.

Lucas Digne the only sub at the break, the leftback makes his Goodison bow as Baines goes off.

Everton 2-2 Valencia, HT

Tied at the half which about a fair result. Richarlison looking very, very good. That Everton front four is meshing very well.

That defence though...

Everton 2-2 Valencia, 26’

Blues level again, as Keane rises highest and powers home a header from a lovely Sigurdsson corner.

Minutes later Everton fortunate to not be behind again as the Valencia player is wrongly called offside and his finish doesn’t count.

Everton 1-2 Valencia, 19’

The Blues are an utter shambles when defending crosses. Moreno completely unmarked as a cross comes in from the right. No communication between the two CBs and two DMs.

Everton 1-1 Valencia, 16’

However a lovely lay-off from Walcott sets up Cenk Tosun who finishes brilliantly in the far corner. It’s 1-1.

Everton 0-1 Valencia, 11’

The Blues are behind early, again. A deep cross from the left goes over Baines, and Keane is slow to react and pick up the man behind who centers for Moreno to hammer home. Everton’s defending still disjointed and terrible.

Richarlison shows his quality and almost draws Everton level minutes later with a sizzling, curling shot headed to the top corner, but it’s tipped over by Neto.

Everton will play their seventh and last preseason friendly today, hosting La Liga side Valencia. The first game of the season at Goodison Park will mark the home debut for manager Marco Silva, and new signings Richarlison and Lucas Digne.

The Toffees still have some big holes in the squad to fill, and will be challenged by the Spaniards who ended the season in fourth behind Barcelona and the Madrid pair. Issues remain with the defence and how poorly it has done so far. The zonal marking system also looks like it’s a long way from competent too.

The opposite problem is going on at the other end of the pitch - the Blues are finding the goals have dried up after the 22-0 hammering of Austrian minor leaguers ATV Irdning.

There is some good news though with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Theo Walcott both looking like they have resumed full training and likely to get their first action of the preseason. England hero Jordan Pickford is also back from his vacation after the World Cup and will likely get some playing time too.

It’ll be interesting to see if Ademola Lookman, and Yannick Bolasie both get playing time, seeing as they are somewhat expected to leave before the deadline window closes.

Lineups:

Everton: Stekelenburg; Baines, Keane, Jagielka, Coleman; Gueye, Schneiderlin; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Tosun

Subs: Pickford, Virginia, Connolly, Kenny, Digne, Pennington, Besic, Davies, Dowell, Lookman, Niasse, Calvert-Lewin, Sandro

Valencia: Neto; Gaya, Diakhaby, Garay, Piccini; Ferran, Kondogbia, Parejo, Carlos Soler; Santi Mina, Rodrigo