Your Everton evening headlines on Monday, May 2.
Everton relegation rivals suffer double injury blow before Premier League run-in
Everton's relegation rivals Leeds United have been dealt a double injury blow at the worst possible time as they continue their fight for Premier League survival.
Leeds have been rocked by setbacks in this department all season long, affected most by the loss of key duo Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford. They have also played much of this campaign without club captain Liam Cooper, who suffered a hamstring injury in December which kept him out of action until April.
Cooper helped the Whites to two draws and a win in his three games since returning to the team but was ruled out of Saturday's defeat to Manchester City after pulling out of the pre-match warm-up. Commenting on the Scot's unexpected absence after the full-time whistle, Leeds boss Marsch issued a mixed update: “Liam had a weird feeling in his knee after making a pass in warm-up. He will need a scan. We're hopeful it's not a major issue but we will see.”
TALKING POINT: Frank Lampard critics are wrong and Chelsea win showed why he should stay at Everton next season
MOMENTS MISSED: What Jordan Pickford did after stunning double Everton save as 'corrupt' banner unfurled
To read the full story, click here.
Jordan Pickford showed what Everton have been lacking as Chelsea 'gave up' after what crowd did
I felt shattered after Everton’s win over Chelsea and I expect the majority of the other 39,000 at Goodison Park felt the same. It felt like the longest game in history but there was so much relief afterwards.
It was a fantastic display from both the players and the fans with the situation before the game. After Burnley had come back to beat Watford the previous day, that can knock the stuffing out of you as a player as the pressure is ramped up but if they were lacking anything then seeing the thousands line the streets to cheer them on during their way in would have given that extra bit of oomph and it worked.
We had to be at it as Chelsea are last season’s Champions League winners and a team with quality players who can hurt you but we just made them play backwards and sideways. The kick-off even epitomised what the day was going to be about as normally we don’t get anything from it but we managed to get a free-kick in a dangerous area just seconds after the start.
Some of the players who I’ve been on the back of for quite a while, stood up to be counted and showed passion and desire. If you give everything for that shirt then the fans will give you that back in abundance.
To read the rest of Michael Ball's column, click here.
