Everton suffered a blow in their bid for Premier League survival as Fulham ended their four-match losing streak with a 3-1 win at Goodison Park.
Everton went into the game only above the relegation zone on goal difference but could fall into the bottom three by the end of the weekend after failing to build on their impressive home form under Sean Dyche.
Fulham, searching for their first league victory since February 18, took a 22nd-minute lead through Harrison Reed but Dwight McNeil’s fine strike 10 minutes before the break gave Everton hope as the first half ended level.
The Toffees started the second period brightly but it was the visitors who went ahead when Harry Wilson finished a fine counter-attack six minutes after half-time. Daniel James added a third for Fulham in the 68th minute and from there Marco Silva’s side cruised to three points.
It is just the second time Everton have lost in the league at Goodison Park since Dyche took charge. They remain 17th, level on points with 18th-placed Nottingham Forest, who face Manchester United on Sunday – live on Sky Sports. Fulham stay 10th.
Sunday 16th April 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
How Fulham bounced back against Everton
Both sides struggled for fluency in a cagey opening but spaces gradually opened up with Demarai Gray and Wilson both having tame efforts saved by Bernd Leno and Jordan Pickford respectively.
Fulham were starting to get on top as Andreas Pereira shot wide before the deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute, with Reed slotting beyond Pickford after Everton were left scrambling when Wilson’s curling effort thudded against a post.
As Everton are the lowest scorers in the division, Reed’s strike might have been decisive but the hosts rallied, thanks in part to transitioning from 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 formation as McNeil and Gray began to operate higher up the pitch to support Neal Maupay as Alex Iwobi dropped back into midfield.
Harrison Reed gave Fulham the lead in the first half at Goodison Park
Maupay could have opened his account but his point-blank header was straight at Leno and then James Tarkowski wastefully blazed the rebound over before Everton got a deserved equaliser after 35 minutes.
A dithering Joao Palhinha was dispossessed in his own half, allowing the hosts to break as James Garner freed McNeil, who turned and unfurled a fine left-footed shot from 20 yards past an outstretched Leno.
With confidence seemingly restored by the leveller, Everton remained on top but they could not find another way through before the break as Maupay was once again denied by Leno after a one-two by McNeil, whose teasing cross from the right evaded everyone in the box and drifted narrowly wide.
Another McNeil cross to the near post after half-time caught Leno off guard, cannoning into the Fulham goalkeeper’s near post, before the visitors restored their lead in the 51st minute.
Kenny Tete’s cross to the back post was cushioned back by Willian into the path of Wilson, who coolly side-footed the ball into the net.
The visitors had a couple of chances to move even further ahead as Pickford saved from Pereira, who then saw an effort deflected over with Everton increasingly penned back into their own half.
Some slack defending led to Fulham’s third in the 68th minute, with a free-kick over the top catching Everton on their heels although James still did brilliantly to bring the ball down before firing across Pickford.
James might have deepened the misery late on as his effort from an acute angle just missed the target, with the Toffees again caught napping, but it mattered little to the result as Fulham coasted to victory.
Fulham ended their Premier League losing run in impressive style against a struggling Everton
Fantasy Premier League stats
Opta stats: Everton struggling for points at crucial time
- Everton won two of their first three Premier League matches under Sean Dyche (L1), but have since managed just one victory in their last eight games (D3 L4).
- After losing each of their first 14 trips to Goodison Park in the Premier League, Fulham have since won on each of their last two visits – 2-0 in February 2021 under Scott Parker and 3-1 today.
- Fulham’s opener was the first time Everton have conceded in the first half of a Premier League home game since January 3 (vs Brighton).
- Harry Wilson netted his first Premier League goal for Fulham, while it was his first in 32 appearances in the competition overall – since scoring for Bournemouth in January 2020 (vs Brighton).
- Dwight McNeil has netted four times for Everton in the Premier League this term, as many as he had in his previous three seasons for former club Burnley combined (0 in 2021-22, two in 2020-21 and two in 2019-20).
What’s next?
Everton travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Saturday April 22; kick-off 3pm.
Meanwhile, Fulham host Leeds at Craven Cottage, also on Saturday April 22; kick-off 12.30pm.
Everton’s remaining fixtures
April 22: Crystal Palace (A) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 27: Newcastle (H) – Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm
May 1: Leicester (A) – Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 8: Brighton (A) – Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm
May 13: Man City (H) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Wolves (A) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Bournemouth (H) – Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
Fulham’s remaining fixtures
April 22: Leeds (H) – Premier League, kick-off 12.30pm
April 25: Aston Villa (A) – Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm
April 30: Man City (H) – Premier League, kick-off 2pm, live on Sky Sports
May 3: Liverpool (A) – Premier League, kick-off 8pm
May 8: Leicester (H) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 13: Southampton (A) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Crystal Palace (H) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Man Utd (A) – Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
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