On Monday, Everton surprised Brighton & Hove Albion by winning the Premier League match 5-1.
Relegation-threatened Everton surprised Brighton & Hove Albion 5-1 on Monday by playing a masterclass in counter-attack football. Abdoulaye Doucoure scored twice in the first half.
Everton tore apart their hosts with lightning-quick breaks and then withstood intense pressure in the second half before conceding when Alexis Mac Allister scored for the home team. Brighton keeper Jason Steele scored an own goal and Dwight McNeil added two more.
The Merseyside club moved to 32 points from 35 games, two points clear of the drop zone, as they seek to avoid a first relegation since 1951, while Brighton’s hopes of European football next season were dented and they sit in seventh with 55 points from 33 games.
Everton had 23 percent possession in the game, but were excellent in breaking down Brighton attacks and flooding forward on the counter, scoring 10 percent of their Premier League goals this season in a dream first half.
It’s enormous. We got off to a strong start, we had a strategy, and we stuck to it. We all played exceptionally well today and deserved the three points, McNeil said to reporter.
“Our start could not have been better. We’ve been in a tough spot this year, so it’s a credit to the guys. We simply need to expand on this game right now.
This is about us advancing as a team, so there is a tonne of confidence right now. We play Manchester City at home on Sunday in a huge game, followed by two huge games.
The excellent Dominic Calvert-Lewin set up Doucoure for his first goal, which he finished off from close range after 34 seconds.
McNeil’s cross from another quick Everton move allowed Doucoure to score a wonderful second goal with an outstanding volley from 12 yards.
Steele then put McNeil’s low cross into his own net, and the Everton winger added two more goals in the second half, both coming on quick counterattacks.
The four substitutions made by Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi at halftime resulted in a significantly improved home team after the break, but despite being swarming the Everton box, they only managed one goal through Mac Allister.
“There are still three cup finals left, so we must continue. Jordan Pickford, the Everton custodian, said that there are many positives to be gained from that.
Sean Dyche, the gaffer, made a few adjustments. Early on, we established the bar. The group has to keep moving forward; the unity is there, but we can’t let up on the gas.
