Everton 0-2 Fulham Instant Reaction - Terrible Toffees well beaten

If you thought Everton were bad against West Ham and Newcastle, that was nothing compared to the performance they turned out against Fulham.

The Toffees saved arguably their worst display of the season so far for the visit of the Cottagers, with two goals from Josh Maja securing their first ever league win at Goodison Park.

It meant they missed the chance to go fifth in the table and go level on points with Liverpool, bringing everyone down to earth with an uncomfortable bump.

There can be no complaints with the result, Fulham were thoroughly deserving of the win and perhaps should have won by more.

The frustrating thing is this performance was not a surprise, we have seen it a worrying number of times this season. Everton’s continued struggles against so-called ‘lesser’ sides is going to cost them big time in the final shake up.

Carlo once again shuffled his pack, with Yerry Mina and Michael Keane rested with Ben Godfrey alongside Mason Holgate in defence. Richarlison, as expected moved to a central striking role in the absence of the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Everton started off poorly and survived an early scare when Robin Olsen’s poor punch from a free-kick was volleyed over by JoshMaja.

The Toffees looked vulnerable from set pieces against Spurs in midweek and they did so again here. A Fulham corner from their left was flicked on by Bobby Cordova-Reid and the ball hit the post. A scramble in the box then saw Ola Aina’s shot on the rebound blocked before Joachim Anderson’s effort was deflected over.

The Cottagers were well on top by this stage and were knocking the ball around nicely, though they were also helped by some sloppy passing from Everton, who kept giving the ball away in dangerous areas.

Another neat flick from Cordova-Reid found Harrison Reed who drilled a shot wide from distance.

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Former Evertonian Ademola Lookman then scuffed shot wide in great position inside the area after another sloppy pass.

You can imagine what the Gwladys Street would have been shouting had the fans been in the stadium.

The Toffees belatedly woke up when James’ searching pass found Andre Gomes, but his shot from distance was well wide.

Seamus Coleman then went on a marauding run and with space opening up in front of him, hit a low left-foot shot that hit the outside of the post.

Better, but still far from good enough.

It got worse three minutes into the second half. Everton cut to ribbons down their right as Aina’s driven cross was slid home by debutant Maja for his first Cottagers goal.

It was the least they deserved as Everton had been absolutely rotten.

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Carlo made a double change, with Coleman and Tom Davies replaced by Josh King and Michael Keane.

It didn’t reap instant dividends as another sloppy pass created a chance for Lookman, who curled over from the edge of the box.

Minutes later, it was two.

Reed’s shot from the edge of the box was tipped onto the post by Olsen and, with the rest of the Everton defence sleeping, Maja was all alone and able to tap home the rebound.

Everton were all over the place making Reed look like a modern-day Iniesta.

It took until the 76th minute to even have a shot on target, a Gylfi Sigurdsson effort from a half-cleared corner hit into the ground that was comfortably saved by Alphonse Areola.

King thought he had got Everton back into the game when he converted Gomes’ cross, but he had strayed a yard offside.

Keane had a header straight at Areola late on. But to be honest I’d given up by then, they could have played all night and not scored, it was that bad.

Everton’s failure to see off teams like this has become a serious problem and could cost them a European place. It has certainly cost them any hope of trying to qualify for the Champions League.

Maybe the presence of Manchester City and Liverpool in the next week is just what they need...