Besting Benitez
GD1: Everton vs Southampton 14.08.21
Goodison Park reverberated with the throng of fans returning to the stands in full voice. The Tony Bellew siren wailed and the unmistakable, iconic bells of Z Cars were met by the roar of the crowd. Rafa Benitez saluted the fans and settled in to watch the season opener.
Everton lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape with a start for Richarlison barely off a plane back from the Olympics. Demari Gray slotted in as a number 10 playing behind the imposing figure of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Everton started well, with crisp link up play finding gaps in the wider areas with a clear gameplan of trying to find DCL in the box with a variety of crosses.
22 minutes in, disaster struck. Trying to play out from the back, Keane dallied on the ball, was robbed by Che Adams, who slipped in Armstrong for the opener. This caused a very nervous first half where Southampton came out on top.
In the second half, Everton rallied and came out strong. Quick, direct attacking play created chances and forced set pieces. Richarlison snuck in at the far post to tuck away a corner scramble, and from there Everton broke at will to take the game with goals from Doucoure and DCL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKulug14C2o
___________
My task on FM was a tough one. Southampton are a good side and to better a 3-1 opening day victory would be a tall order. I lined up with the same players in the same positions and crossed my fingers that our playing out would be better than Keane’s. This was a difficult decision because Richarlison hadn’t played a single minute in any friendly due to him being on holiday. Also, Holgate had barely played because of an injury. Both players would need to be watched carefully to ensure their lack of match fitness didn’t cause problems.
It was a frenetic start to the game. It seems that despite my instructions for slow, controlled build up play, the team just enjoys pinging balls around and going direct. The only difference seemed to be our higher pressing forcing more turnovers to help us raise that possession stat. Within a minute Keane hit a diagonal pass to Richarlison who skinned his man and crossed to Calvert-Lewin to head over. A warning sign for Southampton. They steadied the flow but Doucoure picked the ball up in the centre circle and split defenders to set DCL free on goal, he rounded the keeper and made it 1-0. It could have been 2 a minute later but Richarlison’s cross just evaded DCL. Then it was Southampton’s turn to trouble us. A long ball downfield was won in the air by Broja who slipped in Redmond but his tame shot was saved by Pickford. The pace quickened and became end-to-end. Doucoure smashed a shot off the crossbar then Redmond missed another sitter. Broja hit the post after bullying Holgate and it only seemed a matter of time before they equalised. However, Gray was set free in the box, brought down by Bednarek, and Richarlison coolly slotted home the penalty. Further goals followed from DCL and Holgate and we were somehow 4-0 up at the break. Iwobi made it 5-0 but then we took our foot off the gas. Romeu fired in a wonderful strike and then we had our own defensive howler a few minutes later when Holgate was robbed by Tella in a carbon copy of Adams vs Keane. Full-time 5-2.
STATS ATTACK
Stat
Real Life Fixture
Everton v Southampton
FM Fixture
Everton v Southampton
Possession
48%
52%
57%
43%
Passes (%)
337 (70%)
370 (69%)
699 (91%)
446 (84%)
Shots
16
6
17
17
SoT (%)
6 (43%
3 (50%)
11
9
xG
2.3
0.9
3.2
2.7
REAL LIFE
Despite Everton having the lion’s share of chances and momentum throughout the majority of the match, Southampton edged the possession and passing stats with Everton clearly being more direct when the chance came. The creative spark came mostly from Richarlison 0.7xA and Townsend with 0.8xA but a notable mention goes to Gray who had 4 shot creating actions and Coleman was heavily involved down the right with 4SCA and topping the charts at 6 progressive passes. It was a game where Everton’s patience and discipline was heavily rewarded and this added up to a big swing in xG and a deserved Everton victory.
IN GAME
We completely dominated possession and passing stats and this is a theme that will probably continue. It’s simply easier to dominate possession in-game without having to do much. The big takeaway for me is the xG numbers. 3.2 is massive and so it should be after scoring 5 goals but also 2.7 is. The first half in particular was kind to us and if Redmond had his shooting boots on we could have been behind. He accounted for 0.55xG in just those 2 shots. At 17 shots each, with more on target for us, it shows that we created the better chances. The danger men for us was DCL with 2 goals and 1.3xg and Richarlison at 1.0 aided by the penalty.
For us, our focus came down the left hand side through Digne and Richarlison rather than the right. They had 9 key passes between them compared to 4 from the entire Southampton team. Gray had a good game too. I was unsure of how he’d do at #10 but he roamed well and was dangerous throughout with 3 key passes, CCC created and an assist.
CONCLUSION
All in all it was a very good win. I felt for sure that I wouldn’t be matching Rafa’s start here because Southampton are a good side. We did, and it is a trip over the hills to Elland Road next which will be another big test. Rafa managed a 2-2 draw, again I’ll be hard-pressed to match that especially if I give up as many chances. The league table obviously looks good but there’s a long way to go yet. Up next - Leeds United vs Everton.
'Nil Satis, Nisi Optimum' - 'Nothing but the best is good enough’
FM_Everton1878 changed their profile photo