Everton 2-0 West Ham United
EVE: Lukaku 50’; Barkley 76’
Man of the Match: Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
For Pep Guardiola, read Ronald Koeman. After an encouraging start, notable for decisive management, unorthodox decisions and an immediate improvement, an unexpected winless run which, in each case, could be branded a slump and posed questions if progress had been a short-term phenomenon, an illusion even.
Then, like his former Barcelona teammate did a day earlier, Koeman secured a restorative win. The similarities even extended to the scorers, a forward wearing No 10 and a midfielder in the No 8 shirt. For Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan, read Everton's Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley.
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Like Aguero, Lukaku underlines the difference a clinical finisher can make. He delivered a first win in six games. “He showed he is a fantastic striker and a fantastic goalscorer,” said Koeman.
In an increasingly unpredictable world, there are few guarantees, but Lukaku offers one. He always scores against West Ham; in his last nine appearances against the Londoners, he has found the net at least once in each encounter.
They rank as his favourite opponents. Yannick Bolasie is fast becoming his favourite teammate.
Men who can converse in the Lingala language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the home of their ancestors, are on the same wavelength. They keep on combining for goals. The winger has four assists as an Evertonian. Lukaku was the scorer on each occasion.
It is the division’s most prolific combination.
When Adrian pushed Seamus Coleman’s shot away to seeming safety, Bolasie provided a cutback from an acute angle and Lukaku headed into the unguarded net. Perhaps Adrian could count himself unfortunate. He had already made one magnificent stop to deny Barkley with a raised right arm, the fact the Englishman’s effort was deflected rendering it all the better.
Yet Lukaku proved his nemesis. Having scored one, he made another. Barkley finished off a long-range one-two with a low volley from Lukaku’s cross. The midfielder had been the instigator of the move. His goal felt significant; excellent in August, average in September, unimpressive in October, Barkley had embodied Everton.
This was an uplifting afternoon for the Liverpudlian. He was rewarded with a standing ovation and the praise of a manager who has been critical in recent weeks. “It was one of his best [displays] of the season,” said Koeman, who had called for his midfielders to score more goals.
One old Evertonian rued that. “There is a bitter side because we should take something definitely but they were more lethal or more mature or more cruel,” said Slaven Bilic, the West Ham manager and an Everton player in the 1990s.
Rather than featuring an orthodox striker, Bilic began with Michail Antonio, the man who has been both full-back and attacker already this campaign. The rampaging running of the exuberant Englishman almost yielded an equaliser. He used his acceleration to harry Ashley Williams into a mistake, but failed to capitalise. His shot was too close to Joel Robles, who saved well. The Spaniard, deputising for the injured Maarten Stekelenburg, also turned away Mark Noble’s curler. “The goalkeeper played fantastic,” said Koeman.
Bilic then overloaded with attackers in Andre Ayew, the club record buy, and Simone Zaza, who could yet inherit that title. Koeman responded by bringing on Phil Jagielka.
Two goals to the good against West Ham last season, Roberto Martinez brought on a forward, Oumar Niasse, and lost. His more pragmatic successor introduced a centre-back to ensure he kept a clean sheet.
They are two isolated incidents, but they illustrate the change of thinking at Goodison Park. “We were perfect defensively,” said Koeman.
He was a great stylist as a player but for him perfection comes in the form of solidity.
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