Everton 2020-21 Season Review: Five Worst Games

It says a lot about supporting Everton that is is often easier to pick out the worst bits about the team than it is the best. That is certainly the case when picking out the most catastrophic five games from the 2020-21 season, which began so brightly but ended with a depressingly familiar whimper.

There was certainly plenty to choose from when you consider my final selection does not include home defeats by Leeds United, West Ham United and Aston Villa, as well as draws against Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace.

Yeah, it’s been that kind of season.

Fifth: Man City 5-0 Everton (May 2021)

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

I think it says a lot when a 5-0 defeat isn’t the worst game of the season. The main mitigating factor is the fact Manchester City are by far and away the best team in the county, if not Europe. However, Everton made it far too easy for them thanks to a shambolic defensive performance, with four of the five goals directly resulting from defensive mistakes. The last 30 minutes were truly horrific to watch as Everton ended the campaign with the lack of character of some of the players brutally exposed.

Fourth: Everton 1-2 Burnley (March 2021)

Photo by GARETH COPLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

You could pick any number of awful home performances, throw them up in the air and see where they land when deciding a top five. Burnley scrapes in at number four mainly because we scored through Dominic Calvert-Lewin. We probably should have been more than 2-0 down by that stage however as Burnley were absolutely dominant for the first 30 minutes and simply held Everton at arm’s length in the second half, something Sean Dyche’s sides are resolutely capable of doing.

Third: Everton 0-2 Newcastle (January 2021)

Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

You could probably lump the St James’ Park game into this as well because Everton were terrible in both matches versus what is an extremely average Newcastle side. The Magpies had lost their last six games in all competitions and were without a win in 11 when they rocked up at Goodison in January, but two goals from Callum Wilson, who had gone seven games without scoring, sealed the win. He could probably have had another three or four were the woodwork and Jordan Pickford in fine form that day.

Everton, that.

Second: Everton 0-2 Fulham (February 2021)

Xinhua/Xinhua via Getty Images

As we edge closer to that number one spot the teams Everton lose against get progressively worse. Step forward Fulham. Relegated with just 28 points and five wins all season, one of which came at Goodison. You couldn’t even say it was a smash and grab, the Cottagers should have been ahead before they opened the scoring in the first half. Everton, in contrast, could only muster two shots on target all game, both of which came when they were already 2-0 down.

First: Everton 0-1 Sheffield United (May 2021)

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Awful, truly awful.

Sheffield United, rock bottom, already relegated with just one away win to their credit all season and arriving at Goodison having lost eight of their last nine matches, somehow came away with the win thanks to a goal from a 17-year-old making his debut start. The driving rain and chilling wind summed up the supporters’ mood as they watched a horribly weak display that suggests the attitude as well as the ability of some players is up for debate, especially with a European berth still in play at this time.

It’s all ifs, buts and maybes I admit, but losing to two of the three relegated sides at home has ultimately cost Everton a place in Europe.