Everton 0-2 Leicester (Tielemans 45′, Barnes 86′)
Leicester moved out of the relegation zone for the first time since August after securing a third Premier League win in their last four games against Everton thanks in part to a wonder-strike from Youri Tielemans.
Tielemans is unlikely to score a more important goal for Leicester than the screamer that won the club its first FA Cup in 2021, but he has netted more spectacular ones; this was perhaps his best yet. James Maddison nudged the ball into Tielemans’ path and he expertly set himself up for the volley with his thigh before firing a volley into the top corner. Jordan Pickford dived for it; he needn’t have bothered.
The Foxes were the better side for the majority of the game and finally sealed their win four minutes from time when Harvey Barnes rifled a shot into the net after being teed up by Maddison. Maddison’s pair of assists took him to 10 direct goal involvements – six goals, four assists – in the Premier League this season and he will hope that will propel him into Gareth Southgate’s World Cup plans.
An absolute ROCKET from Tielemans! SENSATIONAL
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 5, 2022pic.twitter.com/wicf3xVyzY
One player who looks unlikely to make the trip to Qatar is Dominic Calvert-Lewin as he hobbled off with what appeared to be a muscle strain during the second half. Frank Lampard said that the striker “felt a sensation in his hamstring” and would be assessed after the game.
Here’s how the players rated:
Everton player ratings
- Jordan Pickford: Flapped at a corner in the first half and looked unconvincing with the ball at his feet too, firing a misplaced pass straight to Barnes’ feet. Made a valiant attempt to stop Tielemans’ wonder-goal but was never going to get anywhere near it such was the quality of the strike. Almost badly caught out from a long ball forward but his blushes were spared by Mykolenko. 5/10
- Seamus Coleman: Made his 390th appearance for the club, 13 years to the day since his first appearance. Managed to contain Barnes well for the most part but didn’t offer anything going forward. 6/10
- Conor Coady: Looked to be losing a foot race with Barnes but recovered just in time to get to the ball first and earn a free-kick. Not his or Everton’s best night. 6/10
- James Tarkowski: Had Everton’s first shot on target with a header from a corner before making a vital block from a Dewsbury-Hall effort that looked to be arrowing towards the bottom corner. Fortunate that Maddison was unable to capitalise on his giveaway but generally solid otherwise. 6/10
- Vitaliy Mykolenko: Made a vital tackle on Daka to spare Pickford’s blushes after he had needlessly rushed out of his goal to deal with a long ball over the top. Had to be alert again to stoop and head clear a dangerous Dewsbury-Hall cross that looped towards the back post. 7/10
- Amadou Onana: Possibly should have done better to control a header from a corner that flew over the bar. Has made a big impact since signing from Lille but didn’t have his best day. 5/10
- Idrissa Gueye: Robbed the dawdling Soumare on the edge of his own box to create Everton’s first big goalscoring opportunity and got an important touch to divert a Maddison effort behind but generally struggled with the pace of the game. Replaced at half-time. 6/10
- Alex Iwobi: Will be wondering how he didn’t score. Missed a glorious chance after five minutes, side-footing inches wide with plenty of the net to aim for, and then had a diving header blocked by his own player. Did brilliantly to craft a chance for Calvert-Lewin that was spurned. 7/10
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- Dwight McNeil: Brought into the side in place of Anthony Gordon and had a couple of nice touches early on before fading noticeably as the game wore on. Replaced by Gordon in the second half which indicates he failed to seize his chance to impress. 5/10
- Demarai Gray: Booed by the travelling supporters after leaving Leicester under a cloud in 2021 and drew groans from his own fans after losing the ball cheaply. 5/10
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin: Set up Iwobi for what should have been the opener with a cute reverse ball and then missed a glorious chance after the Nigerian had returned the favour. His faint World Cup hopes look to be over after he limped off and headed straight down the tunnel with a hamstring strain. 6/10
Subs: James Garner 6, Neal Maupay 6, Abdoulaye Doucoure 6, Anthony Gordon 6, Nathan Patterson 6
Leicester player ratings
- Danny Ward: After a record-breakingly bad start to the season, Ward has improved considerably in recent weeks. Still not entirely convincing from set-pieces or high balls into his box, but made some big stops, notably from Calvert-Lewin. 7/10
- Timothy Castagne: One of the unheralded stars behind Leicester’s recent improvement but a little sloppy at times at both ends of the pitch. 6/10
- Wout Faes: Has made an enormous contribution to Leicester’s defence since signing from Reims and is quietly becoming the club’s leader at the back. Marshalled Calvert-Lewin brilliantly before the striker went off and continually got his body in the way to block shots and crosses. Looks a class act. 8/10
- Daniel Amartey: Coolness personified when wriggling away from Calvert-Lewin in his own box as the striker charged at him. Has rarely been a first-team regular during his time with the club but has belatedly made the spot his own. 6/10
- James Justin: Positionally very good, particularly from crosses aimed towards the back post he was defending. Not quite as effective with the ball at his feet, failing to find a teammate with some ambitious passes forward. 6/10
- Boubakary Soumare: Hugely fortunate that his slack play was not punished by Iwobi in the opening exchanges but grew into the game after a shaky start and largely protected the back four. 6/10
- Youri Tielemans: What. A. Goal. Tielemans scored a sensational effort against Wolves this month but this one was arguably even better. The Belgian teed himself up perfectly with his first touch before unleashing a glorious dipping volley that kissed the underside of the bar with his second. 8/10
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: Made a strong impact early on with his driving runs from midfield and might have found the net had Tarkowski not got his body in the way. 7/10
- James Maddison: Had Pickford scrambling with a clever effort that narrowly missed the bottom corner and was a constant menace to the Everton backline. Perhaps should have scored from a swift counter-attack but scuffed his effort and then smacked an effort off the base of the post. Played a part in both goals and has kept up the pressure on Southgate to include him in his World Cup squad. 8/10
- Harvey Barnes: Blazed a shot miles over the bar after being teed up by Dewsbury-Hall and let out a roar of frustration in response. Left Maddison frustrated on a couple of occasions after wasting a couple of promising opportunities by rushing his final pass or shot. Finally, he got it right, lashing a confident finish past Pickford to seal the points. Could have had a second in added time but denied by Pickford. 7/10
- Patson Daka: Caused plenty of problems with his speed and movement but snatched a little at his chances. Seems to have emerged as Brendan Rodgers’ first-choice striker but while he has the legs on Jamie Vardy, he lacks some of the veteran’s cuteness. 6/10
Subs:
- Jamie Vardy 6, Wilfred Ndidi 6, Marc Albrighton 6
Maddison: It’s a dream to go to the World Cup
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t in my mind because the World Cup’s nearly here and that’s the pinnacle, that’s the dream,” Maddison told Sky Sports after the game.
The look from Youri Tielemans
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 5, 2022pic.twitter.com/cOFeSAS8HR
” I always say the same answer and it becomes a bit cliché but if I focus on what I do for Leicester and my performances here hopefully that catches the eye of the England manager and hopefully I can force my way into his plans.
“It’s out of my control and I can just do what I did then for 90 minutes.”
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