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So what is it going to be like for Everton? It was the first question that came up after the final whistle.
Everything felt good at Goodison Park once again. There was life in Gwladys Street End, where the majority of 2,000 boisterous fans were sitting, there was noise in this old venue but most importantly, there was a performance they could be proud of.
Frank Lampard could have complained later. Chelsea could have had more of the ball. But anything other than a home win would have been unfair.
This was one of those occasions that left you with the feeling that this Carlo Ancelotti team is moving. They chased and ran, tackled and seized their chance, through Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cool head, when he came from the penalty spot.
Everton looked like a team with Europe in their sights, but then he recalled something of what has happened in the last two months, when they failed to win six of their previous seven games.
“It’s been a weird season,” said Mason Holgate, one of many dressed in blue who stood out. “We have won in blocks and then lost in blocks, while others have been winning one and then losing one.
“We know where we stand in the race for Europe and we think we can stay in and around the top four.”
Holgate is not lacking in confidence, but it was comforting to hear him be so forthright. Everton have invested fortunes during the reign of Farhad Moshiri as the main shareholder, so why not dare to dream?
It is true that Everton will have to convince their skeptics that they have the consistency to hold the distance, but what cannot be debated is the opportunity presented to them in one of the most open campaigns in years.
If during Christmas they can find the arrogance of those first weeks, when they started with seven consecutive victories in all competitions, they will give themselves a real platform. They face Leicester, Arsenal, Sheffield United and Manchester City before the end of the year.
“That’s where we think we should be,” Holgate said. ‘We know we deserve to be there. We know the quality we have as a staff. We were improving towards the end of last season and then we made some big additions in the summer. The results had not been good enough, and we knew it. When we arrive we have a team that can cause problems for anyone and I think we can beat anyone when we play the best we can. ‘
Defend yourself in this way and they will have many possibilities. Holgate turned right and did not put a foot out of place. Michael Keane’s performance was flawless alongside the feisty Yerry Mina and young Ben Godfrey once again showed great potential.
The fierce way they guarded their goal left Lampard fearing the worst. His team was second best in almost every position, with only Reece James close to the standards Lampard would expect.
“In the Premier League you are going to lose games, so it is very important that we put perspective,” Lampard said, noting that his team had been undefeated since 20 September. “The first 20 minutes it was clear that it was going to be physical and second balls.
“The advantage was in the game and we were not completely in the advantage. We did not find enough answers. But I’m not going to say that I’ve learned anything from a game. Our creative play was not as good as it has been, but part of that will have been how well they defended and organized against us. ”
Lampard certainly did well. Everton’s organization and stamina was better than it had been for months, possibly as good as it has been at any time with Ancelotti.
This foundation cannot be allowed to go to waste.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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