Tag: Everton

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RODRIGUEZ, FOUR OTHERS IN ISOLATION AT EVERTON AS DOUBTS CLOUDS THE COLOMBIAN’S FUTURE AT GOODISON PARK

JAMES RODRIGUEZ IS unavailable for Everton’s Premier League opener against Southampton on Saturday as uncertainty continues to surround the Colombia playmaker’s future.

While forwards Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are set to be involved in the contest at Goodison Park, Rodriguez is among five Everton players currently isolating.

Rafael Benitez, preparing for his first competitive match as Toffees boss after succeeding Carlo Ancelotti in June, was asked at his pre-match press conference on Friday if Rodriguez was part of his plans or if he would be allowed to leave.

And he said: “I have had my conversation with him at the beginning, and then he knows my idea – but now he is not available, so it is not an issue for tomorrow.

“We will discuss every single player with them, with their agents and then try to find the best solution for us, for the club, and also for the players.

“Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin are available, but we have some players that are in isolation, and then we have to manage that.”

Richarlison only returned to training with Everton on Wednesday after winning Olympic gold with Brazil in Tokyo, while England striker Calvert-Lewin had missed last weekend’s friendly against Manchester United due to a knock.

With coronavirus restrictions having eased, Goodison Park is set to be full tomorrow for the first time since March 2020.

When Benitez was asked if he could understand fans wanting to see Rodriguez, who joined the club in September last year, in the flesh if possible, he said: “I understand that the fans want to see the best players possible on the pitch to win the game.

The arrival at Everton of Benitez – only the second man to manage both Merseyside clubs and the first in over a century – was met with some negativity among the Toffees fanbase.

Benitez is confident that Everton supporters attending Saturday’s game who still feel unsure about his appointment will get behind the team.

“I think they have seen during these weeks what we can try to do, and the point is that after 17 months I think they will be desperate to see the team on the pitch, to cheer the players, to support the team,” he said.

“I think they are quite clever and they know the main thing for us is to be sure we are strong at home. They can be a major part of our success, and I’m sure they will be supporting the team in the way they did all the time.”

Everton have so far brought in Demarai Gray, Andros Townsend and Asmir Begovic as new signings this summer.

Regarding potential further recruitment before the transfer window closes, Benitez said: “I’m sure that if you asked, the majority of the managers want to improve, want to strengthen their squad.

“It still is early, we have to wait a little bit until the end of the transfer window. But I’m happy with the way the players are training, the way we are working, and hopefully we can replicate that on the pitch.”

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EVERTON NEW SIGNING DEMARAI GRAY VOWS TO HELP THE TOFFEES GET BETTER

Demarai Gray has vowed to help Everton compete with the Premier League’s big boys after completing his move to Goodison Park.

The 25-year-old former Leicester winger has signed a three-year deal and has the option of a fourth with the Toffees as he leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee after just six months in the Bundesliga.

He follows fellow wideman Andros Townsend and keeper Asmir Begovic to the blue half of Merseyside with new manager Rafael Benitez and director of football Marcel Brands wasting little time in re-shaping the squad for the season ahead.

Gray told the club’s official website: “I’m delighted to be back in the Premier League at such a big club and I’m excited to play with the team and get to work.

“Speaking to the manager and Marcel Brands, I had a really good feel for the club and I feel this is a place where I can continue to develop.

“The manager, with his ambition and what he has won in the past, is important and we’ll look to push forward and compete with the top clubs. I think a club of this magnitude has all the potential to be right up there.

“Collectively with what Marcel and the manager have said to me, everything fits, including the club’s ambitions and goals. Everton are a very big club and the main objective is to be pushing and competing back up there in the table.

“I want to work hard on the training pitch and work my hardest for the club on the pitch.”

Birmingham-born Gray, who will wear the number 11 shirt, began his career with his hometown club before making a £3.5million switch to the Foxes in January 2016, and was a Premier League winner at the age of 19.

He has been capped by England up to Under-21 level and is confident he can renew his acquaintance with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose 21 goals last season helped Everton finish 10th, to good effect.

He said: “I’ve played with a few of the boys for England Under-21s, so it’s always nice to see a few familiar faces.

“Dom’s kicked on massively with his goals and, for me, as a winger, that’s the type of player you want in the box. My job is to feed him for him to put the ball in the net.

“We’ve got top international players in the squad and I think we have a good balance. It’s an exciting time.”

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RAFAEL BENITEZ PROMISES TO FIGHT FOR EVERTON AS HE CLARIFIES ‘SMALL CLUB’ JIBE

New manager Rafael Benitez has pledged to show the same fighting spirit for Everton as he did for Liverpool when he made his “small club” comments.

The Spaniard’s appointment on a three-year contract, becoming only the second man to manage both Merseyside clubs and the first ex-Reds boss to do so, is a controversial one by owner Farhad Moshiri.

He antagonised fans with his “small club” jibe after a 2007 Merseyside derby and although in subsequent years he has sought to clarify he was referring to them having the mentality of a small team in their approach to the game, it has not been forgiven or forgotten in some quarters.

But Benitez, who won the Champions League and FA Cup with Liverpool in 2005 and 2006 before leaving in 2010, insists he was only doing what he believed was right for his club at the time.

“I have been in Madrid, Naples, Valencia, Tenerife, Extremadura and Liverpool,” he told evertontv.

“Every single club I was there, I was fighting for them. If you analyse things in the context, what you are expecting from your manager is to fight for your club, and I will do that.

“I am here, I will fight for my club, I will try to win every single game, and it doesn’t matter who the opponents are, or the rivals. It is something you have to do, it is your nature, that you have to try to do your best.

“And why a lot of fans in a lot of these cities love me is because I was giving everything for them.

“If you analyse this in the context, then it is very clear I will do the same for Everton.”

Such has been Moshiri’s desire to get the right man after the departure of Carlo Ancelotti four weeks ago he has ignored the loud opposition, which has seen offensive messages hung outside Goodison Park and a ‘We know where you live. Don’t sign’ banner hung over a garden wall near Benitez’s home in Caldy on the Wirral.

Benitez is the fifth manager the Everton owner has appointed in five years after sacking the current Belgium boss Roberto Martinez in May 2016. However, he is only the second to cross Merseyside, following in the footsteps of William Edward Barclay, who made the move in the opposite direction in the 1890s to become Liverpool’s first manager after the Toffees left Anfield for their purpose-built home at Goodison Park and a new club was formed in their place.

Moshiri is confident he represents their best choice for getting the club into Champions League contention after seven seasons finishing outside the top six, with Ancelotti managing only 12th and 10th in one-and-a-half disappointing campaigns.

“You can see the ambition is there. This club is growing. For me, it is about bringing the winning mentality, being competitive, so everything is in place on the pitch and off the pitch,” added Benitez.

“I love the passion of the people behind the club. I know the city, I know Scousers, I know what it means for every fan here to compete and to have the chance to win. To come to Everton is something that means a lot, for sure.

“I like to compete. I like to win and I have come to Everton because I liked the idea to be competitive again – and to have the chance to compete in every game, to compete against anyone.”

Benitez insists, despite his desire for full control and clashes with similar figures in the past, he is looking forward to working with director of football Marcel Brands as well as Ancelotti’s assistant manager Duncan Ferguson and goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly, who are to remain on the staff with further backroom appointments expected in the coming days.

“I worked in Spain for years with a director of football. Marcel is a professional. I am a professional,” he said.

“We will work together, we will keep talking, having meetings to talk about the club’s idea, what we have to do in the future, about players.

“The communication between us has to be fluent and we will be talking with each other all the time. I am really pleased with that (structure).

“I have already been in contact with him. I have the plan (for Everton’s summer transfer business).”

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RAFAEL BENITEZ AGREES THREE-YEAR DEAL TO JOIN EVERTON

Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has agreed a three-year deal to join rivals Everton.

The Spaniard spent six years at Anfield between 2004 and 2010, winning the Champions League, the FA Cup and guiding the Reds to a second-place finish in the Premier League.

Everton have been searching for a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti since the Italian’s return to Real Madrid and after talks with Nuno Espirito Santo, the Toffees have turned to Benitez.

The Spaniard is keen to return to the Premier League after an 18-month stint in China but the club’s interest in him has been met by a widespread backlash from supporters.

Benitez once referred to Everton as a ‘small club’ after a Merseyside derby and supporters have not forgotten his comments.

Banners have been hung outside Goodison Park in protest of the club’s interest in Benitez but the Toffees’ owners appear untroubled and look set to announce Benitez’s arrival in the next 48 hours.

The former Newcastle United boss has maintained a house on Merseyside, such was his love of the area during his time in England.

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NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO INCH CLOSER TO CRYSTAL PALACE MOVE AFTER EVERTON LINKS

Everton-linked Nuno Espirito Santo is on the verge of making a swift return to Premier League management with Crystal Palace.

That is according to The Telegraph, who are reporting that the former Wolves boss is now in advanced talks with Palace and close to being appointed.

The report goes on to claim that an announcement could be made later this week, with talks now progressing over a deal.

Everton’s search for a new manager is well underway and already a whole host of names have been linked with the position at Goodison Park.

The shock exit of Carlo Ancelotti last week, with the Italian returning to Real Madrid, has left the Blues with a vacancy that needs to be filled.
Just this morning Nuno remained the overwhelming bookmaker favourite at 2/5 to takeover at Goodison in the coming weeks.


But it now appears that the former Porto boss is set to take over from Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park following his departure at the end of the season.
According to the latest odds, Nuno is followed by Ralf Rangnick and ex-Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, who are both at 6/1.

While Frank Lampard and David Moyes are joint-third favourites at 8/1, with Rafael Benitez standing at 9/1.

Antonio Conte, who recently dropped out of the running to takeover at Tottenham following his exit from Serie A champions Inter Milan remains at 11/1, with Paulo Fonseca 12/1.

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EVERTON RELEASE QUARTET OF KING, WALCOTT, BOLASIR AND BESIC

Everton have confirmed the departures of out-of-contract quartet Theo Walcott, Joshua King, Yannick Bolasie and Muhamed Besic.

Walcott, 32, who arrived at Goodison Park in a £20m switch from Arsenal in 2018 is set to join Southampton.

Norway forward King, 29, only joined the Blues in February on a deal until the end of the season.

Bolasie, 32, last played for the club in May 2018, while Besic’s last appearance was in December 2017.

Bosnian midfielder Besic was the longest-serving player of the four but was restricted to just 56 appearances after joining the club from Ferencvaros in 2014.

On-loan goalkeeper Robin Olsen also leaves Merseyside to return to his parent club Roma.

The Sweden international made seven Premier League appearances last term having being brought in to provide competition for England number one Jordan Pickford.

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EVE 1-0 WOL: RICHARLISON SECOND HALF STRIKE HELP THE TOFFEES STAY WITHIN EUROPEAN SPOT

Richarlison boosted Everton’s hopes of European qualification with the only goal in a home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In an even opening 45 minutes at Goodison Park Wolves came closest to scoring but Adama Traore’s shot was tipped over by Jordan Pickford.

Everton took the lead three minutes into the second half when Richarlison rose highest to head in Gylfi Sigurdsson’s corner.

Everton pressed for a second and after had John Ruddy denied Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Sigurdsson’s deflected effort went narrowly wide.

A first Premier League double over Wolves keeps Everton in eighth place but they are level on 59 points with seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who lost to Aston Villa this evening, and three points behind West Ham United in sixth.

Wolves stay 12th with 45 points.

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GREALISH RETURNS AS EVERTON HELD TO A GOALESS DRAW AT ASTON VILLA

Everton’s European hopes suffered a blow after a limp 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.

The Toffees failed to find the win which would have kept the pressure on the Premier League’s top six.

They climbed to eighth, above Arsenal, to move two points behind fifth-placed West Ham, but Everton’s inconsistencies look like costing them a European spot.

Ben Godfrey and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were denied by Emi Martinez, while Tyrone Mings wasted a rare opening for Villa.

The game at least represented a return for Villa skipper Jack Grealish, who ended his three-month injury lay-off as a second-half substitute.

The skipper was unable to conjure a winner, though, as the hosts remain 11th with three games to go.

The game never inspired and only Bertrand Traore’s tame effort and Calvert-Lewin’s header punctured a sluggish start.

The game was played at pre-season pace as both sides laboured and struggled to find anything resembling momentum.

Mings, though, should have at least hit the target when he wasted Villa’s best opening after 17 minutes.

Ross Barkley’s corner was only cleared as far as Douglas Luiz, who crossed for an unmarked Mings to head wastefully wide from seven yards.

Everton, with two wins in their last previous league games, needed victory to move into the top six yet they appeared aimless, with Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison relegated to bit-part roles.

Without the banned Ollie Watkins Villa were just as toothless and would have already been looking to Grealish on the bench for imagination.

The second half at least offered more promise when Everton created an early chance.

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s deep free-kick found the stretching Godfrey and Martinez had to be alert at his near post to turn the ball behind.

The Toffees saw more of the ball but again failed to really stretch Villa in open play, with the hosts also relying on set-pieces to threaten.

Jordan Pickford beat away Anwar El Ghazi’s free-kick after an hour just as Grealish prepared to clamber off the bench.

Andre Gomes fired over after working space on the edge of the box and the game was given a desperately needed lift when Grealish replaced Traore with 18 minutes left.

But the England international failed to find some magic and it was left to Martinez to ensure Villa claimed a point with three minutes left.

Lucas Digne’s deep cross picked out Calvert-Lewin and the goalkeeper was equal to his header, with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Richarlison unable to convert the rebound.

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FA CUP: CITY STRIKE LATE TO BEAT EVERTON TO THE SEMI FINAL TICKET, KEEP QUADRUPLE HOPE ALIVE

Late goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne carried Pep Guardiola and Manchester City through to the FA Cup semi-finals and kept alive their dreams of an unprecedented quadruple.

But it was a close-fought thing against a stubborn Everton side that only finally succumbed in the 84th minute to Gundogan’s 16th goal of the season.

With City pressing for the winner, a powerful shot by defender Aymeric Laporte was saved well by Everton’s stand-in keeper Joao Virginia who tipped the effort against the cross-bar.

The ball dropped kindly for the on-rushing Gundogan who stooped to head the ball over the line and clinch a 15th win – to go with a Champions League draw against Porto – in 16 cup ties for City this season.

For good measure, City sub Kevin De Bruyne struck in the 90th minute Wirth a clinical finish after racing clear onto a pass from fellow replacement Rodri.

Everton claimed Yerry Mina had been fouled by Riyad Mahrez in the build-up to that goal although, by that stage, such complaints were academic.

City dominated first half possession but Carlo Ancelotti had pieced together a masterful game-plan that stifled their normally free-flowing football.

In fact, the best chance of the opening period fell to the hosts from Lucas Digne’s 43rd minute corner which Mina flicked on brilliantly at the near-post, forcing Oleksandr Zinchenko into a head goalline clearance.

Earlier, City keeper Zack Steffen had also enjoyed a slice of luck when he raced to deal with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s through ball, kicked it against Dominic Calvert-Lewin and needed team mate Laporte to mop up the danger.

But City were frequently frustrated by an Everton defence that set about the task of protecting third-choice keeper Virginia in their goal.

The visitors were largely limited to efforts from distance, with a 25-yard hit from Raheem Sterling straight at the keeper their only on-target effort over the first 45 minutes.

City looked more energised after the restart, although a Richarlison half-volley flew just wide from Everton’s first attack.

And Everton’s 21-year-old Portuguese keeper was soon called into action, diving sharply to turn Sterling’s 12-yard shot around his post after he connected with a Fernandinho cross.

The influential Foden also connected menacingly with another long shot which flew just wide of the Everton goal as the Premier League leaders appeared to be edging closer a breakthrough.

The sight of Riyad Mahrez and De Bruyne coming off the City bench as substitutes was hardly ideal for the home side and, as the tie entered the last 10 minutes of normal time, Foden tested Virginia with yet another long-range attempt that forced a routine stop before the killer goal.

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EVE 1-2 BUR: MC NEIL WONDER STRIKE SEALS BURNLEY WIN AT GOODISON PARK

A spectacular strike from Dwight McNeil proved decisive as Burnley beat Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Burnley went ahead on 13 minutes, Chris Wood firing in for the second successive match after Everton had failed to clear their lines.

The visitors doubled their advantage 11 minutes later through a wonderful goal by McNeil. The winger got past Allan before curling a sumptuous 25-yard shot past Jordan Pickford, who limped off later in the half.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin reduced the deficit with a header on 32 minutes for his 14th Premier League goal of the season.

After the break, Everton pressed for an equaliser with Andre Gomes and Calvert-Lewin both going close.

At the other end, Ben Mee headed against the crossbar but Burnley had done enough to win and stay 15th on 33 points.

Everton are sixth on 46 points.