Carlo Ancelotti insists Everton are “in contention” for a Champions League spot after Southampton win | Football news

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti hopes that Monday’s 1-0 win over Southampton will serve as a springboard as they attempt to bring Champions League football to Goodison Park next season.

Richarlison scored for a third straight game within the first 10 minutes to put Carlo Ancelotti’s team within two points of fourth-ranked West Ham with a game in hand.

But, as Everton’s worst home run since 1958 came to an end, the pain for the Saints continued with just one draw and eight losses in their last nine league games, leaving them seven points above the last three and wondering where it will come from. your next victory. since.

Speaking later to Sky sportsAncelotti said: “To fight for the European places we have to improve the home run, this performance and this victory can help us to have a better streak at home.”

“It will be a dream to be in the top four at the end of the season. We are quite close, but the season is long, we have to stick to our goal, which is to play against Europe next season.”

Everton can move on to Champions League places if they beat West Brom on Thursday Sky sports.

“We have a great opportunity to be in the top four and I think we would like to touch the position,” added Ancelotti later at his press conference.

“We have to put all our efforts into Thursday’s game to try to be there. There is a real possibility of being in the top four in the next game, to see how we feel if we are there.

“It is an opportunity to be there. If we win [against West Brom] We will be in the top four and there will be a great fight until the end of the season.

“We are happy to be able to fight for that position, but this does not change our objective, which is to be in Europe next season.”

Ancelotti believes consistency is the fundamental key to qualifying for the Champions League, but what he could really do is set Richarlison on fire in the final three months of the season.

His angled finish in the ninth minute was only the fifth in the league this season but, since the start of last season, Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Pedro (30) and Neymar (19) are the only Brazilians to score the most goals. in the top five. European leagues than him.

Playing in a two up front with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has 13 league goals this season, the Brazilian seized his opportunity brilliantly.

“Richarlison is not doing something extraordinary right now,” added Ancelotti. “He’s doing his job and he’s a player with this kind of quality. I hope and I’m sure he will continue.”

“Richarlison is a fantastic talent, we have two fantastic forwards with different characteristics.

“When you are 1-0 up, the last minutes are always the same, the opposing team puts a lot of power and we had to control. They had practically a chance. Pickford was good in the goal, really sure. Satisfied, honestly.”

‘Final in the top four? Everything possible with Ancelotti ‘

Jamie Carragher from Sky Sports:

“I think Everton can fall short in the top four, the team of players is perhaps a little short. But if they want to get into the top four, a lot is due to the record of coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“Everton’s last two wins have brought their winning percentage to more than 50 percent, and no coach has come close to that since Howard Kendall’s first period.

“That’s the best manager in Everton history, so that shows the work Ancelotti has done since joining the club. With Ancelotti in charge, anything is possible in terms of the top four.

“Jordan Pickford beat Everton two points with that late save. When you also think about his performance last week at Anfield, Everton did brilliantly to put his head in so many set pieces. [Jannik] Vestergaard was slipping, but it was a great moment for Pickford.

“He’s a player who pointed the finger at him, but he’s been in great shape the last two games, so Everton kept a clean sheet.”

Hasenhuttl says he lacks avant-garde

Southampton’s first real chance fell to Moussa Djenepo in the final 10 minutes, and he deflected when he was well placed, but it was a breakaway for Everton, who vanished after a second goal was disallowed for offside midway through. The first half.

The Saints also came close to equalizing late when Pickford threw himself at Jannik Vestergaard’s feet, but the visitors fell to an eighth loss in the league in their last nine games.

Chief Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “It was not a good start with them scoring from their first opportunity. It was a long ball and we didn’t defend it well. It was a goal from Richarlison with them running from deep the same way he did against Liverpool. and we couldn’t defend it in the same way.

“Since Everton, they’ve had a few set pieces, but not many more. At the moment, we just can’t score and this is our problem.

“We didn’t have that many chances today, and in the last third, the last pass to score is not there at the moment. We are not strong enough. The last two goals we have scored were from Minamino, but today.

“In the second half we tried a lot. I brought in three young guys and they did what they could at the moment given the injuries we have right now. The good thing for me is that Stuart (Armstrong) showed me that he can play in all six.

“In this position, Oriol (Romeu) is out for the rest of the season, so he gives me a bit of hope and helps us.

“We have to work for luck and at the moment it is not there. It was by far one of the best second parts we have played in a long time. Things have to be perfect for us to win games. There is not so much I think it is missing and this is what we have to tell the boys. “

Whats Next?

Everton travels to face West Brom on Thursday, live Sky Sports Premier League; The start is at 6 pm.

Southampton visits Sheffield United on Saturday, also live Sky Sports Premier League; The start is at 3 pm.