Southampton 2-0 Everton: Carlo Ancelotti's Side Suffer First Premier League Defeat

 

Hello, Earth. A first defeat of the season, another player lost to a daft red card, and Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton have well and truly come crashing back down.

The Premier League leaders did not do themselves justice at St Mary’s Stadium, and Lucas Digne will now join Richarlison on the suspended list for cutting down Kyle Walker-Peters.

Ancelotti’s side lacked balance. Ben Godfrey at right back did not work, with James Rodriguez offering little protection, and Alex Iwobi failed to fill in for Richarlison to the extent he was hooked at half time.

For Ralph Hasenhuttl and Southampton, however, this demonstrated their extraordinary turnaround on the one-year anniversary of that 9-0 defeat to Leicester City at this very stadium.

James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams the 24-year-old whose middle name is Everton, after his father inflicted defeat on the side that had forgotten what losing feels like.

Southampton showed greater intensity throughout and deserved what they got.

‘Thank you for remembering,’ said Hasenhuttl with a smile this week when reminded Sunday would be a year to the day since that infamous 9-0 defeat.

Funnily enough, Hasenhuttl went on to suggest their next home loss to Marco Silva’s Everton was even worse in his eyes. 

It was after that experience that he abandoned his use of a back three and turned to the 4-4-2 which has given Danny Ings a new lease of life.

The England striker came close to turning a scuffed shot by Nathan Redmond into a goal in the 12th minute but try as he might, he could not stretch far enough.

In the 16th minute, Everton won an inviting free-kick, 25 yards out. It was made for a left-footer, and James Rodriguez was quick to usher his team-mates away.

He struck it well, but straight at Alex McCarthy. Moments later Gylfi Sigurdsson was given space and time to strike a dipping shot that had McCarthy beaten, but not the crossbar.

At the other end, Jordan Pickford, the man who has not escaped headlines this week following that challenge on Virgil van Dijk, had a low sun shining in his eyes.

Despite that, he was able to deny a powerful drive by Oriol Romeu. But while Sky Sports were showing replays of that save, Southampton were in the process of making it 1-0.

James Ward-Prowse and Ings exchanged a one-two and the midfielder broke through. He belted the ball beyond Pickford, and Southampton had a deserved lead at St Mary’s Stadium.

Everton’s fringe players, such as Alex Iwobi filling in for Richarlison on the left wing, were not doing enough. Ben Godfrey, the centre back being asked to play right back, was another struggling.

In the 35th minute, Southampton took a 2-0 lead, with Ings breaking beyond Godfrey before providing a deep cross. Sigurdsson’s attempt at a header was pitiful, and it saw Che Adams pick up possession before steadying himself and beating Pickford.

Southampton were two goals to the good, and it was very nearly three before half time.

Ings launched a long ball towards Adams and the flag stayed down. The 24-year-old controlled it and set up Stuart Armstrong, who buried a shot in the bottom-left corner.

It was the tidiest of finishes but then, VAR confirmed Adams was offside. Everton’s players were angry with the assistant for not raising his flag earlier but, as per the new rules, he had waited.

Really, you suspect they were more frustrated with themselves. That concluded the worst half of Everton’s season. 

Southampton had been playing with the greater intensity, with Ings a live wire, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin had been feeding off scraps. He had scored in each of his five Premier League appearances this season, but had not troubled Alex McCarthy in the Saints goal.

The half-time statistics did not bode well for Everton either. They had never won a Premier League game when trailing by two or more goals at the break.

Ancelotti hooked Iwobi and brought on Bernard, later introducing Fabian Delph and 19-year-old Anthony Gordon before the hour mark, too. It did little good.

Their afternoon took a turn for the worse in the 71st minute when Lucas Digne as good as stood on the back of Kyle Walker-Peters’ heel. There was no question it endangered the opponent, and referee Kevin Friend did not hesitate to show the red card.

Now it was about damage control. Pickford was forced to tip over a header by Jannik Vestergaard in the 78th minute, while Ings looked determined to get in on the act.

He had to make do with a pair of assists. Southampton had a win which rarely looked in doubt after they took the lead inside the opening half hour.

Everton left looking a shadow of the side that had swaggered to the top of the table.