Everton deserved much more than to come away from their game against reigning Premier League champions and leaders Manchester City empty-handed but other than what was a blatant handball from Rodri, what were the other moments missed from an evening at Goodison Park that brought encouragement if not tangible rewards for Frank Lampard’s side.
Up for the fight
Everton are in a relegation battle right now – make no bones about it – and while they avoided dropping into the bottom three on Saturday, they could well occupy a place in the drop zone before they take to the field again.
It’s ridiculous that a team of their talent should find themselves in a position like this but the league table does not lie.
Nobody questions the ability of this group, they should be collectively gifted enough to find themselves safely in mid-table at least, but possible doubts have been raised over their stomach for the fight.
Without being over-physical – you can’t replicate Bayern Munich in 1985 as modern interpretations over the laws of the game would quickly reduce things to a six-a-side contest – the Blues showed Pep Guardiola’s maestros that they couldn’t just turn up at Goodison and expect the three points to be handed to them on a silver platter.
In that respect, a couple of Everton players old and new led the charge.
There were no surprises when captain Seamus Coleman showed the kind of commitment to the cause needed in such situations with a full-blooded shoulder to shoulder challenge on Kevin De Bruyne and later being caught up in a tangle with Phil Foden.
City won the throw-in but that was a small price to pay as Evertonians were out of their seats and roaring their approval.
What might have been a pleasant surprise though was seeing Donny van de Beek getting stuck in.
As a blond-haired, small-statured Dutch midfielder who has so far largely failed to replicate his impressive form at Ajax in the Premier League, perhaps many of us were guilty of tarring Van de Beek with the Davy Klaassen brush, such was the latter’s ineffectiveness at the Blues.
But while Klaassen seemed ill-equipped to deal with the physical demands of the English game, Van de Beek, still registered to City’s neighbours United of course, put in some tigerish tackles – including one that got him in the book – to show that he’s also an artisan as well as artist in the engine room and such spirit will be needed in the weeks ahead.
England expects
Gareth Southgate will have come away from his latest visit to Goodison Park with plenty of food for thought.
While the England manager will know all about the respective merits of City trio John Stones, Raheem Sterling and match-winner Phil Foden – the latter always looked like the biggest danger to Everton even before he capitalised on a deflection to grab his late goal – he’ll no doubt be pondering on his latest observations of the Blues’ domestic contingent.
The London press has at times this season been talking up the chances of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale for the national team, the 23-year-old so far one-cap wonder very much remains a pretender to Jordan Pickford’s throne.
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Everton’s woes this season have ensured the former Sunderland man has been kept busy but his consistency levels have remained high throughout and as he increases maturity, the wilder moments that sometimes peppered his displays appear to have been ironed out.
Pickford – now the most-capped Three Lions player (42) while at the club – showed just why he remains the undisputed England number one with some stunning saves in the second half.
Surprisingly against City, the 27-year-old had little to do in the first half but after the break, he pulled off a magnificent stop to deny Bernardo Silva after his initial parry of De Bruyne’s effort had fallen invitingly for the Portuguese player.
While Everton must depend on them both right now, English centre-back pair Michael Keane and Mason Holgate might not be getting call-ups any time soon after they unfortunately combined under Southgate’s nose to help fashion City’s winner but one prospect in the home ranks who just might have caught his eye will have been Anthony Gordon who again impressed.
Allan’s Samba skills
Not every Brazilian player is all flicks and tricks – Liverpool quickly discovered that with Lucas – and as a rule that isn’t the way his fellow midfield anchor man Allan plays the game either at Everton.
With Lampard switching to a three-man midfield that many thought the Blues have been crying out for, Allan was the most withdrawn of the trio while the aforementioned Van de Beek and the fit-again Abdoulaye Doucoure marauded forwards in front of him.
Such a position ensured that he was left doing much of the donkey work as a shield in front of the back four to try and keep City’s world-class attacking talents at bay.
Still without a goal in almost 50 games since arriving from Napoli, Allan might not possess the kind of party pieces that compatriot Richarlison has in his locker but the 31-year-old did display a couple of flashes to get himself out of trouble on one occasion here.
With a feint, drop of the shoulder and close control, it was almost like he was enjoying himself back on Copacabana Beach in his native Rio de Janeiro rather than being in Walton on a Saturday evening.
Manchester City seem to inspire these little vignettes from industrious Everton midfielders at Goodison.
It’s over a dozen years ago now but who could forget Marouane Fellaini’s pirouette to outfox Craig Bellamy?
Richarlison awaits
As VAR checked for a potential Everton penalty against Manchester City, there was no doubting who would take the kick.
Richarlison planted himself firmly on the penalty spot as he awaited the decision.
In the press box at Goodison Park, a small television screen replayed the incident, showing Rodri to have clearly handled the ball.
"That's a penalty! It's going to get given!" shouted one journalist.
The entire press box agreed and it felt like just a matter of moments before referee Paul Tierney would gesture to the spot.
But somehow, alongside VAR referee Chris Kavanagh, the decision to not award a penalty was given and Richarlison trudged away from the spot disbelievingly.
