Royal Blue Mersey - Everton vs Bournemouth: Premier League Matchday 22It's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2019-01-14T16:00:13+00:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/179487422019-01-14T16:00:13+00:002019-01-14T16:00:13+00:005 Telling Stats from Everton’s Much-Needed 2-0 Win Over Bournemouth
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<img alt="Everton FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xSWZJ8-yP_VOTYYwsKtd75OcCJU=/0x0:3744x2496/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62841820/1081770878.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Gritty performance helped Everton secure three points</p> <p id="qmD17v">It certainly wasn’t the prettiest of victories, but it’s the one <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> needed most. A backs-to-the-wall, resilient smash-and-grab.</p>
<p id="iTpFnd">For the opening 30 minutes <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/afc-bournemouth">AFC Bournemouth</a> played the Toffees off the park and were unlucky not to be ahead. But a strong end to the first half and start to the second half saw Everton take the lead, before holding on and securing all three points with a last-gasp second goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.</p>
<p id="tpXZxQ">But what do the numbers tell us about this gritty victory at Goodison Park?</p>
<h2 id="tdcb0i">Cool Hand Luke</h2>
<p id="rH34Eh"><em><strong>All-round excellence from youngster</strong></em></p>
<p id="R5RT0T">Ademola Lookman put in a confident, creative, hard-working, technically-apt and defensive sound performance against the Cherries. It’s what Everton have been desperately lacking on the right wing.</p>
<p id="bFFLps">The youngster had the most touches of any of Everton’s front four, completed four dribbles, earned three fouls, made two tackles and two interceptions – none of which Walcott has beaten in any single game this season.</p>
<p id="gtH1Q1">Lookman was by far the Blues’ biggest threat in the first half, with some teasing crosses and jinking runs unfortunate to go unrewarded. He final got his just desserts in the 95<sup>th</sup> minute though, showing excellent composure to tee up Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Everton’s second.</p>
<aside id="Puwg8L"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton vs Bournemouth: Player Grades Poll","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18180830/everton-bournemouth-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratings"},{"title":"Everton 2-0 Bournemouth: Instant Reaction | Relief","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18180809/everton-2-0-bournemouth-recap-instant-reaction-relief-zouma-calvert-lewin-marco-silva"}]}'></div></aside><h2 id="4OE2YA">Digne Dominant (What’s New?)</h2>
<p id="JdYUJw"><em><strong>Frenchman tops assists chart</strong></em></p>
<p id="lwpTsW">It was another masterclass from the Frenchman :Lucas Digne at left-back, adding another assist to his tally for the season when he totted up Kurt Zouma for the opening goal. That’s three assists and three goals in the Premier League for Digne this season, putting him joint top of Everton’s assist table, and joint fourth top goalscorer – not bad for a left-back.</p>
<p id="XMHS1h">Certainly looks like the Blues have found the successor to club legend <span>Leighton Baines</span> right away. </p>
<h2 id="PRs6Zv">Foot In</h2>
<p id="ZrODZi"><em><strong>Everton made 19 tackles against Bournemouth</strong></em></p>
<p id="BW9qoS">With confidence obviously low in the team, throwing in some firm tackles and harrying defenders certainly helped keep the fans onside.</p>
<p id="PgFCpG">On other days, the Goodison groan after such a performance as shown in the opening 30 minutes may have been intolerable. However, some firm tackling helped keep the fans onside (and instead focus their energies on some questionable refereeing decisions, <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18181094/everton-bournemouth-2-0-recap-reaction-marco-silva-eddie-howe-referee-anthony-taylor">thank you Anthony Taylor</a>).</p>
<p id="EVpBRO">Everton have averaged 17.2 tackles and 11.3 interceptions per match this season, but this feisty performance saw the Blues make 19 tackles and 14 interceptions. When times are tough, these are exactly the sort of performances the Toffees need and should demonstrate that the players are fully behind the manager.</p>
<aside id="QjJe49"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton’s centerhalves dominant, but who did Keane call the most skilful player at the Blues?","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18181114/everton-bournemouth-2-0-recap-reaction-kurt-zouma-first-goal-silva-michael-keane-comments-lookman"},{"title":"Silva gushes over Lookman, praises Everton character","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/14/18181652/everton-bournemouth-2-0-recap-reaction-marco-silva-praises-character-personality-lookman-performance"}]}'></div></aside><h2 id="rMqqp2">Bernard: Defensive Machine</h2>
<p id="kzAUyF"><em><strong>Diminutive Brazilian made most tackles on the pitch</strong></em></p>
<p id="5OOakA">When Everton signed a 5’4” Brazilian winger, Evertonians may have been excited about some added flair at Goodison, but few could have predicted such a vital defensive contribution from the former Shakhtar Donetsk man.</p>
<p id="Fy29mx">Indeed, Bernard made a remarkable five tackles against Bournemouth – more than any player on the pitch. He’s looking the perfect addition for the type of football Marco Silva wants to play.</p>
<h2 id="p2C8ka">First Clean Sheet Since November</h2>
<p id="Vigts5"><em><strong>Post and Pickford protect Blues</strong></em></p>
<p id="e98Cmw">For the first time since a ground out 1-0 win over <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/football-league-championship/teams/cardiff-city">Cardiff City</a> at the end of November Everton kept a clean sheet. No wonder Marco Silva was as pleased about it as he was. </p>
<p id="a28S2X">It took a bit of luck, with the far post and <span>Jordan Pickford</span> coming to the rescue on occasions, but defensive grit helped Everton take all three points here.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/14/18181907/everton-bournemouth-5-telling-stats-lookman-digne-tackling-bernard-pickford-clean-sheetPete Reynolds2019-01-14T12:00:07+00:002019-01-14T12:00:07+00:00Silva gushes over Lookman, praises Everton character
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<img alt="Everton FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fw_tUXYPPBR23ScWHY-dTgGeSno=/0x0:5094x3396/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62840407/1081770644.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Blues’ manager happy with result over the Cherries yesterday</p> <p id="Un5bkq"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> overcame a poor first half an hour or so to eventually dispose of <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/afc-bournemouth">AFC Bournemouth</a> 2-0, making it their first win at Goodison Park in five Premier League games. It took a header from Kurt Zouma at the hour mark to break the deadlock and then the Blues had to withstand some sustained pressure from the visiting Cherries late in the game before Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed the result in time added on. </p>
<p id="d0jnWB">Speaking after the game, manager Marco Silva praised his charges for bouncing back after a flat start to the the game where they were very lucky not to find themselves behind. </p>
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<p id="y9FHSQ">“We didn’t start well, how we expected, we know how and why in this moment, but of course it was important after the first 25 to 30 minutes to start playing our way. </p>
<p id="KF4vAk">“We finished the first half better and started the second half well, creating chances from the first moment. When we scored for 1-0, it was fair because in that moment we were the best team on the pitch.</p>
<p id="iakVyU">“They reacted like you would expect, changing some players on the pitch, putting some strong strikers on the pitch with strong wingers, but we were solid in that moment; not so comfortable because we have to keep the ball and start to create the chance to score the second goal, like we did already in some games.</p>
<p id="BMySEm">”But it was a moment to show the opposition we are strong and we did that. </p>
<p id="Gg7e2S">”We deserved the three points. All of us wanted something different in the last minutes, we wanted to keep more of the ball, to try to score the second goal but in every moment they were winning set pieces or corners or free-kicks and in some moments there were simple mistakes.</p>
<p id="BQlVLO">”But we did well, we were solid in that moment and credit to our players.”</p>
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<aside id="cn0Z1g"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton vs Bournemouth: Player Grades Poll","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18180830/everton-bournemouth-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratings"},{"title":"Everton 2-0 Bournemouth: Instant Reaction | Relief","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18180809/everton-2-0-bournemouth-recap-instant-reaction-relief-zouma-calvert-lewin-marco-silva"}]}'></div></aside><p id="M7GgMv">The manager did go on to add that he was pleased by the effort in the face of adversity - though to be quite honest it wasn’t really visible until the second half, no doubt the result of a scathing halftime team talk by the manager. </p>
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<p id="iRIVHf">“I was pleased with the result but more the character and personality the team showed this afternoon. It was a tough match, which we expected, and it is like an obligation for us to win again at home… not just because of the three points but after our last four matches at home.</p>
<p id="tf2Fp6">“It was something we had to do and we did, by showing strong character and strong personality on the pitch. </p>
<p id="oh2LJP">“It was really, really important to keep a clean sheet – of course I’m not so happy with the amount of set pieces Bournemouth won in the last 10 minutes. But when you can win 2-0 at home in a tough match and achieve a clean sheet, it is really important for us and can boost the confidence we need.”</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Love this. <a href="https://t.co/1I13hzTThh">pic.twitter.com/1I13hzTThh</a></p>— ً (@Pxckford) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pxckford/status/1084512701886414848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a>
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<p id="JLaxOs">Ademola Lookman probably had the most complete game of his Everton career, and was the Blues’ most consistent player on the afternoon and proved to be a terror for the Bournemouth side with his crafty skills and mazy runs. </p>
<blockquote><p id="7cRXRX">“It was a fantastic performance and we know he is at that level, but he will improve more and more. It was tough to put his mind in the right way and I have been working hard with him, but I have no doubts he will create big things in his career.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="AgYhYB">Silva has been under pressure lately with the Blues’ slump, and <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/11/18178299/everton-latest-news-marco-silva-farhad-moshiri-bill-kenwright-agm">comments earlier this week</a> from majority shareowner Farhad Moshiri seemed to indicate that he needed to do better. </p>
<blockquote><p id="tALkiH">“Criticism and pressure is something normal for me as a coach. I started at 34 and it is not important. I want good results and I know why I came here to Everton, and I know our project. I am the first person to criticise myself but I am also realistic.”</p></blockquote>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/14/18181652/everton-bournemouth-2-0-recap-reaction-marco-silva-praises-character-personality-lookman-performanceCalvin2019-01-14T08:00:08+00:002019-01-14T08:00:08+00:00Everton 2-0 Bournemouth: Three Thoughts from a sloppy game
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<img alt="Everton FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iaU9i-EyPwasK6y1OYJovpJeFo4=/0x0:4140x2760/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62840344/1081790506.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Lookman shines while Digne & Zouma combined to lift the Blues</p> <h1 id="1e4yUI">An uninspired first half</h1>
<p id="GmogrS"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s first half was reminiscent of some of their worst performances of recent years. Their play was a poor as the weather that besieged Goodsion Park and it looked as though Everton’s woes - especially at home recently - would continue. </p>
<p id="pFJBlx">The passing was some of the most wanting that has been seen with this Everton squad and for a few moments I wondered if Big Sam was back on the touchline. Despite a full week’s rest, the team as a whole looked disjointed and uninspired. Everton was in need of a win to break out of their month long slump and for the first 45 minutes the players looked like they couldn’t be bothered to show up, let alone play. </p>
<p id="8vEG6t">Luckily for Everton, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/afc-bournemouth">AFC Bournemouth</a> were without their leading goalscorer Callum Wilson and failed to take advantage of the struggling Toffees. It would not have been surprising if Everton had gone into the half down a couple of goals, but were able to keep things level and have a chance at points in the second half. </p>
<h1 id="jpwohr">Lookman shines</h1>
<p id="k1EAPo">The only Everton player who was consistently good for the 90 minutes was Ademola Lookman. The young winger has a knack for playing himself out of tight spaces and was involved in nearly all of Everton’s major scoring chances throughout the match. </p>
<p id="vsqvav">As Bernard and <span>Theo Walcott</span> have wilted through the season, Lookman has risen to the challenge. It will be very difficult for Marco Silva to keep Lookman on the bench as he was easily Everton’s most productive player in this match. </p>
<p id="ynb1po">Despite all the chances Lookman created, he looked as though he may finish the match with nothing to show for his contribution. Fortunately for the youngster, he was able to slot a beautiful pass to Dominic Calvert-Lewin that put this tense match firmly out of grasp for the visitors. </p>
<h1 id="NjC0RG">Digne continues to impress</h1>
<p id="vJbhfi">This was certainly not Lucas Digne’s best performance with Everton. He was largely invisible in the first half, save for a cross here and there. But the French fullback showed up when it counted with a beautiful assist on the game winning goal from Kurt Zouma. </p>
<p id="BTqce9">Digne, along with his teammates, may have mailed in the first half of this match, but he was his usual consistent self in the second half and was pumping cross after cross into the box. Whatever defensive deficiencies he possesses he makes up for in spades with his offensive contributions. Zouma’s goal seemed to finally get Everton out of their rut and allowed them to actually start attacking and eventually finish off this game. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/14/18180889/everton-2-0-bournemouth-recap-reaction-three-thoughts-flat-first-half-lookman-dignemralbaugh2019-01-13T20:00:54+00:002019-01-13T20:00:54+00:00Everton’s centerhalves dominant, but who did Keane call the most skilful player at the Blues?
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<img alt="Everton FC v Fulham FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ybW2C4JCgX8X9J01xaa-guqLMm0=/1194x0:3491x1531/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62838811/1042944966.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Zouma and Keane’s comments after 2-0 victory at Goodison</p> <p id="m2WwkE"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> beat visiting <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/afc-bournemouth">AFC Bournemouth</a> 2-0 somewhat fortuitously earlier today, with well-taken goals from Kurt Zouma and Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealing the three points. </p>
<p id="SmKaCV">The central defender’s first goal for the club broke the deadlock at the hour mark and proved to be the winner as Zouma helped keep a clean sheet for the Blues. </p>
<p id="1yIv82">Speaking after the game, the player who is on loan from <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>, was excited to open his account for the Toffees. </p>
<blockquote><p id="FBM2TS">“I enjoyed it. We had a clean sheet. I’m obviously really glad to score my first goal for Everton and that give us the win so I’m very happy with that. We need to keep working hard and keep playing like that.”</p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> When a goal means a huge amount to you<a href="https://twitter.com/KurtZouma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KurtZouma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EVEBOU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EVEBOU</a> <a href="https://t.co/kchPtAtSFu">pic.twitter.com/kchPtAtSFu</a></p>— Premier League (@premierleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1084475289852407808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a>
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<p id="j31I1K">Apparently manager Marco Silva had thrown down the gauntlet before today’s game to Zouma to get a goal. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="yVqhNh">“I ran to the manager because yesterday he asked me to score today. He said, <em>‘how many goals did you score last year [on loan at </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city"><em>Stoke City</em></a><em>]?’</em> and I only scored one. He said, <em>‘I want to see two more scored’</em> and said I [would] do it today.</p>
<p id="oPM1dU">”I am really, really happy because we needed that win today and we wanted to win. It was made even more enjoyable because I scored the first goal and we kept a clean sheet.</p>
<p id="2vRbyk">”We stayed focussed in our game and just had to keep confident, keep patient, and we got the goal.</p>
<p id="LX49mh">”Now I hope we start winning all of the games.” </p>
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<div id="c9sSuv"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/t/z329v" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="xoVjuh">Zouma also complimented Lucas Digne whose pinpoint cross set up the winner. </p>
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<p id="B9MRN7">“The cross [from Digne] was unbelievable. I just had to put my head there and the ball went in. I was a bit surprised [to be in so much space], but I had to take it and obviously I’m happy I did. </p>
<p id="VoM1LM">”We needed to be strong at the back as well to keep all the balls away from the goal and that’s what we did today and everybody did a great job, I think. Then we managed to score the second one through Dominic and everybody’s happy. We did good work today.”</p>
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<aside id="VLx02P"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton 2-0 Bournemouth: Instant Reaction | Relief","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18180809/everton-2-0-bournemouth-recap-instant-reaction-relief-zouma-calvert-lewin-marco-silva"},{"title":"Everton vs Bournemouth: Player Grades Poll","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18180830/everton-bournemouth-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratings"}]}'></div></aside><p id="IaJFPI">His fellow centreback Michael Keane had a strong game as well, bouncing back well from his mistake against <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a> that resulted in the winning goal being conceded. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="fQBCGI">“I feel like I did everything right with that one to be fair. I’ve had a few that I’ve missed this season, but I couldn’t quite get over it so I tried to take a bit of pace off it so it could dip and I think it just clipped the top of the bar so it was unlucky.</p>
<p id="n49KNb">”But luckily Kurt put it away in the second half and it gave us the boost we needed at the right time and it was a huge goal, it settled us down and gave us something to hold onto it.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="PkLCUm">Man of the Match Ademola Lookman received special praise from Keane as well.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="fVTMlP">“He’s got everything. He’s probably the most skilful player at the club, definitely him and Bernard maybe. He can go both ways, he can score goals, and he’s only young as well so he’s only going to get better with more and more experience.</p>
<p id="sTbpKv">”He’s had to bide his time but you can see in glimpses what he’s capable of. If he can get consistency over time and keep learning he’ll be a hell of a player.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="x6G1Kt"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18181114/everton-bournemouth-2-0-recap-reaction-kurt-zouma-first-goal-silva-michael-keane-comments-lookmanCalvin2019-01-13T19:33:25+00:002019-01-13T19:33:25+00:00Referee Anthony Taylor achieves incredible feat in Everton win over Bournemouth
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<img alt="Everton FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UBRqm3anKsd0SMNuFj6TWJ7J7PA=/0x0:2222x1481/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62838762/1081791030.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Both sides have plenty to be aggrieved about in match officials’ performance</p> <p id="rSNoK9"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> scraped to a 2-0 home win over <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/afc-bournemouth">AFC Bournemouth</a> earlier today but the main talking points from the game all focused around the performance of hapless match referee Anthony Taylor. </p>
<p id="nAFsQt">This is not the first time that the 40-year-old has had a shocking game when the Blues are involved, but when you get hammered by both managers at the end of the game, you’ve certainly hit a new low. </p>
<p id="R0qgNQ">Silva’s comments centered more around Taylor’s inconsistency that saw five Everton players booked and seventeen fouls called against the Toffees while the Cherries had only eight fouls called against them with no bookings. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="block-hcm-external-blocks-nonrestrictive">“I’m sure if you are an Everton supporter this afternoon you are unhappy about the referee, I don’t have doubts about that.</p>
<p id="cKQkfr">”I’m not a coach who comes here to find excuses, I like to be honest with you all, but this [match] was really tough.</p>
<p id="qL0XrP">”It is not something that has just happened this afternoon, but this afternoon was really strange. It was a bad performance for sure, but in some moments I can have a bad performance.</p>
<p id="vooLLI">”It is impossible I will be happy with that performance. They only had one clear chance and it was a foul on Zouma, I don’t understand how the referee didn’t see that foul. All the people in the stadium can see but that the referee and his assistants didn’t see that is strange.”</p>
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<p id="tgqy5m">Cherries manager Eddie Howe was equally unhappy, saying that his side deserved at least one penalty and that Andre Gomes needed to be sent off. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="1ilWb4">“At the time, I thought the first penalty shout on Brooks probably was a penalty. I haven’t seen it back, so I may be wrong.</p>
<p id="rUJBkD">”At the end, I’ve then been told there was a stonewall [penalty], but that’s the way things are going for us at the moment. </p>
<p id="f37Y2l">”In terms of Andre Gomes, certainly from my view, I thought the first one could’ve been a yellow, as well as the second. If you add them together, he is lucky to stay on the pitch. I haven’t seen back the one at the end, though.</p>
<p id="9AmdjR">”It’s a difficult one to take and one that is similar to our recent run. Personally, I’m really pleased with our performance.”</p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18181094/everton-bournemouth-2-0-recap-reaction-marco-silva-eddie-howe-referee-anthony-taylorCalvin2019-01-13T19:11:57+00:002019-01-13T19:11:57+00:00Everton vs Bournemouth: Live Blog & Highlights | Blues get away with undeserved 2-0 win
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<img alt="Everton FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7oWRzjlAWVHob-ThyE1FYs72BOk=/0x0:4500x3000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62837119/1081771418.jpg.1547389126.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Back to Premier League action, which Blues show up today?</p> <h1 id="tj4rzW">Live Blog</h1>
<p id="FWLWpQ"><strong>Fulltime -</strong> Everton lucky to come away with a 2-0 win today. Bournemouth will certainly feel hard done by after dominating most of the first half. Blues took their (few) chances today though and that is what matters in this game. </p>
<p id="qRnAVG">Special mention to referee Anthony Taylor who had a shocking performance overall, making some absolutely random calls throughout the game. I guess the Blues can count themselves lucky no one got sent off and his errors didn’t change the result. </p>
<p id="k2I4O6">After an awful first half for the Blues, Richarlison had two great chances to put the Toffees ahead early in the second half. </p>
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<p id="Kc49II">Luckily a few minutes later the Blues did take the lead. Here’s the first goal, from a cross by Lucas Digne headed in by Kurt Zouma.</p>
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<p id="Vr7tJg">And here’s the deathblow right at the end for the Blues, with substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin doing the honours. </p>
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<p id="CICQ4I"><em>Apologies for the lack of updates in the second half, blame technical difficulties!</em></p>
<p id="5QZwra"><strong>Halftime -</strong> There’s the half. Blues started awfully but finished the stringer side. Much better once they started getting all their pieces involved in the game. </p>
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<p id="J6MiGR">44’ - Blues win a freekick in a dangerous position just outside the box on the left. Sigurdsson and Digne over it, the Frenchman takes it and straight into the wall. <br>Bernard then finds Sigurdsson right at the top of the box, but he fires it well wide. </p>
<p id="VenBUI">42’ - Another corner for the Blues, Digne returns it into the box and Keane the first to get to it, his header bounces off the top of the bar and over. Better. </p>
<p id="92fLW7">38’ - Lookman pops up on the left wing and fizzes a low cross along the six-yard box but no one’s there to get a touch. <br>Bernard’s been getting increasingly frustrated and now goes in the book for yet another foul. </p>
<p id="2Wo34b">35’ - Richarlison twice fails to find a wide open Lookman on the other wing, and Everton finally exert some pressure on the visitors. <br>Another corner won, and easily cleared. At least Goodison and the Everton player are finally awake. </p>
<p id="bgVv4f">31’ - Everton finally make a break as Ademola Lookman runs down the right, his low cross is met by Bernard but his diving header was awful. </p>
<p id="qavxMZ">28’ - Some key people have been non-factors today - Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson & Lucas Digne have done absolutely nothing today so far. </p>
<p id="uQiQe9">26’ - Bournemouth win a freekick from a dangerous position just outside the box on the left. Junior Stanislas curves it over the wall but Pickford dives full length to push it out for a corner. </p>
<p id="ZaYF5p">18’ - The players, the fans, overall right now Everton are just a ball of frustration and it’s showing very clearly in the funereal atmosphere and the poor football on the pitch. </p>
<p id="BxUVQB">16’ - Bernard wins the Blues first corner which is easily cleared and the counterattack is on... Everton somehow scramble it away. </p>
<p id="AyjEJE">14’ - Everton livid as Kurt Zouma is overpowered by King and there’s no foul called, he finds Brooks wide open and he beats Pickford, but not the far post and it’s cleared. Whew. </p>
<p id="NEAd0F">11’ - Bernard gives away a poor freekick just outside the box. Overhit, and David Brooks goes down after some contact from Idrissa Gueye, referee Anthony Taylor waves play on. Well, if that wasn’t a penalty then it should be a yellow card for simulation right?</p>
<p id="6WWWij">8’ - Jordan Pickford completely shanks a clearance under the watchful eye of England manager Gareth Southgate. <br>Fraser finds Josh King in a crowded box but he messes up his shot and it trickles to Pickford. Blues on the backfoot so far. </p>
<p id="NvM4dw">5’ - Both sides misplacing passes early. It is deathly quiet here at Goodison, the home side showing how unimpressed they are with the Blues’ recent record, no wins in their last four games at the Old Lady. </p>
<p id="qSo5qf">1’ - The visitors get us underway and Ryan Fraser almost makes the Blues pay but his cutback into the box is intercepted by Bernard. </p>
<p id="QY9Zil"><strong>Lineups -</strong> Marco Silva switches around his front four once again, with Richarlison starting at striker and Ademola Lookman replacing Theo Walcott.</p>
<p id="VXnTpJ">Callum Wilson misses out with an injury, though Ryan Fraser and Josh King pass late fitness tests.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">⚠️ TEAM NEWS! ⚠️<br><br>5️⃣ changes<br>✅ <a href="https://twitter.com/Alookman_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alookman_</a> starts<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/richarlison97?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@richarlison97</a> leads the line<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFCmatchday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EFCmatchday</a> <a href="https://t.co/YcczJSqzbq">pic.twitter.com/YcczJSqzbq</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/1084438745498173440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a>
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<p id="pXs7fg"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/afc-bournemouth">AFC Bournemouth</a> both started the season well and going into December were well-poised to crack the top six as <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> foundered. Fast forward just over a month and the pair are sitting in the lower half of the Premier League table what went wrong. </p>
<p id="8GpHtk">During the AGM earlier this week club majority shareowner Farhad Moshiri expressed his dissatisfaction with overall results despite repeated heavy spending, and Marco Silva will certainly be feeling the pressure if the Blues come out flat once again like they did early on New Year’s Day against <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a>. </p>
<h1 id="mZtsT2">Match Details</h1>
<p id="Tn0k5V"><strong>Date and start time:</strong> Sunday, January 23th at 6:15 a.m. PT / 9:15 a.m ET / 2:15 p.m. BST</p>
<p id="jLb1aE"><strong>Stadium:</strong> Goodison Park, Liverpool, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/england">England</a>, United Kingdom</p>
<p id="sd4UgU"><strong>Capacity:</strong> 39,572</p>
<p id="jWmOa0"><strong>Weather: </strong>50°F/10°C, light rain, 42% chance of precipitation, 25 mph winds</p>
<h1 id="NylbZy">How to Watch/Listen</h1>
<p id="ZqDVb5"><strong>TV:</strong> NBCSN - <em>United States</em><em>; </em>Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event <em>- </em> <em>United Kingdom,</em> TSN2 - <em>Canada</em>, SuperSport 3, RMC Sport 1, beIN Sports, DAZN</p>
<p id="mGBAfE"><strong>Radio: </strong>Everton Match Centre, BBC Radio 5 Live, TalkSport Radio World, SiriusXM FC</p>
<p id="41ULCC"><strong>Live stream:</strong> <a href="http://nbcsports.com/">NBCSports.com</a>, Telemundo, <a href="https://fave.co/2OrDihv" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">fuboTV</a>, TSN GO, beIN Sports Connect, Flow Sports App, Optus Sport</p>
<p id="FsYgq9"><strong>Gamethread:</strong> Liveblog will be updated above from one hour before kickoff</p>
<p id="eB2O1I"><a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3018898/everton-vs-afc-bournemouth/">Information from LiveSoccerTV.com</a></p>
<h1 id="k6zWnV">Lineups</h1>
<h3 id="Zz6RPN">Everton</h3>
<p id="fdZF0p"><strong>Starting XI: </strong>Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Gueye, Gomes, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Lookman, Richarlison</p>
<p id="68MO8R"><strong>Subs:</strong> Stekelenburg, Kenny, Mina, Davies, Walcott, Calvert-Lewin, Tosun</p>
<h3 id="hYm7g5">AFC Bournemouth</h3>
<p id="2idVrn"><strong>Starting XI: </strong>Begovic, Clyne, Ake, S Cook, Smith, Gosling, Lerma, Brooks, Stanislas, Fraser, King</p>
<p id="Tvt9dO"><strong>Subs:</strong> Boruc, Surman, Mousset, Ibe, Daniels, Rico, Simpson</p>
<h1 id="Zmcrvq">Last Meeting</h1>
<p id="wx8JXM">Fixtures between the two sides tend to be of the explosive variety, with seven Premier League clashes between the pair resulting in 29 goals. In their meeting earlier this season at the Vitality Stadium, the two sides finished 2-2 with ten men each with the Cherries clawing back from a two-goal deficit in an whirlwind second half. </p>
<p id="zIOrrC">Last season when the two teams met at Goodison Park it looked like the visitors were going to win the game until Oumar Niasse popped up with a super-sub’s brace to snag all three points 2-1. </p>
<p id="1d7EgD"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18180547/everton-bournemouth-2-0-recap-reaction-highlights-zouma-calvert-lewin-marco-silvaCalvin2019-01-13T16:24:24+00:002019-01-13T16:24:24+00:00Everton 2-0 Bournemouth: Instant Reaction | Relief
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<img alt="Everton FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UPJ4Hi5B1jRrXnM9Cim_lYHUDyo=/0x0:3810x2540/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62838209/1081791378.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Blues finally get back on the winning track at home</p> <p id="l0aQCG">In the last 6 months of public education in America, there is a condition that afflicts almost every student:</p>
<p id="ITgOBS"><em>Senioritis</em></p>
<p id="SDMvg5">Senioritis hits when students realized that even if they work as hard as they can, any gains made in those final months would be negligible. They’ve already secured passage into their next year of education, and even if they became a perfect student it’s not like they are going to graduate top of the class. </p>
<p id="s5WJ9h">This was all I could think about as I watched a listless, uninspired <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> face off against Bournemouth on Sunday. </p>
<p id="AKaHwn">From the time the first ball was kicked, the lack of impetus and hustle from Everton created a distasteful atmosphere throughout Goodison. </p>
<p id="3fM81P">Up against a team struggling just as mush as the Toffees themselves, the home side should have come out full of confidence. </p>
<p id="1S1QBc">Instead, the Toffees had the air of a team that had secured mid-table anonymity for another year and had little to gain from exerting too much effort. </p>
<p id="VCOl0v">In fact, in the first 30 minutes the best thing that happened to the Toffees was that they somehow DIDN’T give up a goal after what can only be called a comedy (or tragedy) of errors in communication and execution from <span>Jordan Pickford</span> and Co. in the back. </p>
<p id="lt9HwO">The wandering Blues finally got some direction when Ademola Lookman created a few opportunities and slid the ball dangerously through the box, but much like is to be expected from a team lacking confidence, there was no Toffees player taking a chance to make a run and ultimately the chances came to nothing. </p>
<p id="Q0eizM">Right before halftime, Michael Keane glanced a header off the top of the crossbar, but by the time the whistle blew for intermission it felt more like an act of mercy than M.O.</p>
<p id="OQNHRu">When the second half opened, it was obvious that Marco Silva had given his side a stern talking to as the Toffees came out with a renewed sense of purpose, and even though Andre Gomes effort skied over the bar after the initial buildup of the half the crowd greeted it with unabashed cheers. </p>
<p id="Sqxn92">The Toffees unlucky streak continued, however when just three minutes into the half Nathaniel Ake unknowingly blocked Richarlison’s effort off the line to keep the game scoreless. </p>
<p id="5wWiS4">The rest of the opening 15 minutes of the 2nd stanza brought little to cheer, as both sides poked and prodded each other but failed to make any meaningful incursions into the opponents box. </p>
<p id="dkefLx">The tie was finally broken when Everton recycled a corner kick after a tepid clearance and Lucas Digne (of course) served up a beautiful near post cross that an aggressive Kurt Zouma got his head to and steered in past a helpless Asmir Begovic. </p>
<p id="XqXCCi">Of course, as the Toffees have proven over and over again, no lead is ever safe in their hands and the minutes immediately following the goal saw Everton ebb between all-out-attack and time-killing tactics, unsure of whether to try and put the nail in the coffin with a second goal or hold onto the lead. </p>
<p id="vzPCFW">The next 20 minutes saw neither team create any great chances, though Everton did collect yellow cards like they were playing a game of Uno. </p>
<p id="WV5ZAY">When Bournemouth began racking up corner after corner in the final 10 minutes, Everton fans feared the worst, but it wasn’t to be. </p>
<p id="SOoqLA">With just seconds on the clock, Ademola Lookman broke free before finding Dominic Calvert-Lewin who finished cooly into the corner to wrap up all three points for the Toffees. </p>
<p id="7qlMKF">It wasn’t pretty, but after the run of form the Blues have been in it was a much-needed three points. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18180809/everton-2-0-bournemouth-recap-instant-reaction-relief-zouma-calvert-lewin-marco-silvaBrian Foley2019-01-13T16:07:02+00:002019-01-13T16:07:02+00:00Everton vs Bournemouth: Player Grades Poll
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<img alt="Everton FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/v9cfe7_RnqfWe3QlJmc3FPl-6dE=/0x0:3564x2376/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62838003/1081772864.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Grade the Everton players and manager on their performance today </p> <p id="RkJ5qL">Who was your <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> Man of the Match in today’s game against <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/afc-bournemouth">AFC Bournemouth</a>? Vote to grade the players and manager on how they did.</p>
<p id="Qm0i1Q"><em>If this poll is not showing up on your screen, please </em><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/T3DeYyd32NRqEDem1"><em><strong>click here</strong></em></a><em> to go and grade the players - we apologize for the inconvenience.</em></p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/1/13/18180830/everton-bournemouth-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-ratingsCalvin