Leeds 1 – 2 Everton
Everton’s revival under Ancelotti continues as they beat Leeds 2 – 1. The visitors took a ninth-minute lead when Lucas Digne’s excellent low cross from the left flank was steered first time into the net by an unmarked Sigurdsson. Goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave Everton a hard-fought win at Leeds United to take the Toffees fifth in the Premier League.
Leeds came close to equalising but Ezgjan Alioski volleyed against the post and Pascal Struijk’s header was acrobatically tipped over by Everton goalkeeper Robin Olsen.
England striker Calvert-Lewin then grabbed his 12th Premier League goal of the season with a close-range diving header after Ben Godfrey had flicked on Sigurdsson’s left-wing corner.
But Leeds were the better side in the second half and Raphinha pulled one back with a calm finish from Patrick Bamford’s pass, although the hosts could not grab an equaliser.
The victory moves the Toffees, who started the day eighth, above Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham, although the Hammers will regain fifth if they beat Aston Villa in a later game on Wednesday.
Everton’s revival under Ancelotti continues
Everton had to work hard to claim their 11 league win of the season and the result continues their impressive revival over the past 14 months.
In December 2019, they were in the bottom three when Marco Silva was sacked, with caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson taking them up the table, before Carlo Ancelotti got the job.
Ancelotti guided them to 12th last season and they have built on that in 2020-21 and are now in contention to qualify for European football after a three-season absence. Calvert-Lewin has been key to Everton‘s success and he made a return to goalscoring form after seven league games without a goal.
Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, with 15, has scored more league goals than Calvert-Lewin, who netted his 12th in 19 league matches with his diving header from Sigurdsson’s corner late in the first half.
Iceland midfielder Sigurdsson had earlier put Everton ahead as he got free of his marker to finish from eight yards after Digne’s brilliant cross from the left.
With Leeds pushing for an equaliser, Calvert-Lewin had a chance to score his second of the night after a quick counter-attack, but could not beat home goalkeeper Illan Meslier, although the miss did not prove costly.
Ancelotti handed a late debut to Joshua King, the Norway striker signed from Bournemouth on transfer deadline day, and he helped his team see out the victory. This win means Everton have picked up 16 points from their last six away matches and only Manchester United and Leicester have won more games away from home.
Source – BC News
