Richarlison has now scored eight goals overall this season, with seven in the Premier League
Richarlison scored a stoppage-time goal against Leicester to earn Everton a precious point in their bid to stave off relegation.
Frank Lampard’s side were staring defeat in the face and the prospect of slipping into the Premier League’s bottom three should Burnley beat Southampton on Thursday.
But after a nightmare start to the game when James Maddison’s cross was turned in by Harvey Barnes, they turned the game in their favour in the second half with substitutes Dele Alli and Salomon Rondon playing a key role.
After Richarlison wasted several good chances, it looked as if Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers would earn his first win at Goodison Park.
But the Brazilian turned in a scuffed shot after 92 minutes, after good work by Alli and Rondon, to send the home supporters wild in delight for a point that was richly deserved for the team’s improvement if not for their quality.
His eighth goal of the season did not look like it was coming but when it did, it was one that could prove vital given that Everton face Liverpool and Chelsea in their next two games.
The point lifted the hosts four points clear of Burnley with seven games of the season remaining.
For Leicester, who were content to sit on their one-goal advantage rather than search keenly for a second, it was a wasted opportunity with Maddison also squandering three good chances as Everton gambled for an equaliser.
The Foxes have already reached a Europa Conference League semi-final this season, but they now sit 11 points behind seventh-placed West Ham, who have played two more games.
A draw that felt like a win
Everton could not turn successive home victories into a third, but after a poor first half, this will feel as good as a win.
Without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who suffered a training-ground injury that could keep him out for two weeks, their front three of Richarlison, Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon struggled to link together.
Gordon’s passing and set-piece delivery was particularly woeful, but once Rondon came on to provide a focal point to the attack, and Alli offered some assistance to the impressive Alex Iwobi, the game began to turn Everton’s way.
The early goal and dominance by Leicester led to a subdued atmosphere in the first half where despite Richarlison’s miscued shot, the home fans were not lifted off their seats until just before the break when Gray fired inches wide from a clever corner.
Leicester had already gone close when Seamus Coleman tackled Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall before the Foxes took the lead.
With Rodgers making seven changes to the side that lost at Newcastle on Sunday, the visitors were able to cut through the Everton defence easily. Dewsbury-Hall and Maddison both caused problems for the Everton defence, who had Yerry Mina back for the first time since February following a hamstring injury.
By contrast, Fabian Delph and Allan were ponderous in midfield with only Iwobi providing the thrust that Everton and their fans craved. But that soon changed in the second half as Alli came on to replace Allan.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Gordon’s passing was still off, and Richarlison, who had scored only three goals since the turn of the year, wasted another good chance after good work by Rondon and a free header from a corner.
As Everton pressed for an equaliser, gaps opened up for Leicester to exploit and Maddison went close three times.
That ultimately proved costly as Richarlison and his team’s persistence earned a crucial point to keep Lampard’s side on the right side of the drop zone, regardless of Thursday’s results.
Player of the match
BarnesHarvey Barnes
with an average of 7.20
- EvertonEvertonEvertonLeicesterLeicester CityLeicester City
EvertonAvgSquad number36Player nameAlliAverage rating
5.39
Squad number33Player nameRondónAverage rating
5.22
Squad number24Player nameGordonAverage rating
5.15
Squad number7Player nameRicharlisonAverage rating
5.11
Squad number19Player nameMykolenkoAverage rating
5.09
Squad number23Player nameColemanAverage rating
5.05
Squad number11Player nameGrayAverage rating
4.93
Squad number17Player nameIwobiAverage rating
4.87
Squad number22Player nameGodfreyAverage rating
4.86
Squad number13Player nameMinaAverage rating
4.83
Squad number8Player nameDelphAverage rating
4.79
Squad number6Player nameAllanAverage rating
4.73
Squad number1Player namePickfordAverage rating
4.62
Leicester CityAvgSquad number7Player nameBarnesAverage rating
7.20
Squad number22Player nameDewsbury-HallAverage rating
7.11
Squad number10Player nameMaddisonAverage rating
7.02
Squad number3Player nameFofanaAverage rating
6.84
Squad number1Player nameSchmeichelAverage rating
6.81
Squad number6Player nameEvansAverage rating
6.68
Squad number27Player nameCastagneAverage rating
6.61
Squad number24Player nameMendyAverage rating
6.61
Squad number8Player nameTielemansAverage rating
6.58
Squad number14Player nameIheanachoAverage rating
6.55
Squad number21Player nameRicardo PereiraAverage rating
6.54
Squad number37Player nameLookmanAverage rating
6.32
Squad number29Player nameDakaAverage rating
5.99
Squad number18Player nameAmarteyAverage rating
5.68
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsEverton
Formation 4-3-3
1Pickford23Coleman13Mina22Godfrey19Mykolenko6Allan8Delph17Iwobi24Gordon7Richarlison11Gray
- 1Pickford23Coleman13MinaBooked at 80mins22Godfrey19Mykolenko6AllanSubstituted forAlliat 58’minutesBooked at 86mins8Delph17Iwobi24Gordon7RicharlisonBooked at 75mins11GraySubstituted forRondónat 66’minutes
Substitutes
- 2Kenny4Holgate5Keane15Begovic16Doucouré21André Gomes30van de Beek33Rondón36Alli
Leicester
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Schmeichel21Ricardo Pereira3Fofana6Evans27Castagne24Mendy8Tielemans10Maddison22Dewsbury-Hall7Barnes14Iheanacho
- 1Schmeichel21Ricardo Pereira3Fofana6Evans27Castagne24MendySubstituted forAmarteyat 84’minutes8Tielemans10Maddison22Dewsbury-Hall7BarnesSubstituted forLookmanat 67’minutes14IheanachoSubstituted forDakaat 77’minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 2Justin4Söyüncü11Albrighton12Ward17Pérez18Amartey20Choudhury29Daka37Lookman
Referee:David CooteMatch StatsHome TeamEvertonAway TeamLeicesterPossessionHome36%Away64%ShotsHome13Away11Shots on TargetHome3Away3CornersHome5Away4FoulsHome8Away17Live TextPost update
Match ends, Everton 1, Leicester City 1.
90’+6’Full Time
Second Half ends, Everton 1, Leicester City 1.
90’+5’Post update
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Ricardo Pereira.
90’+4’Booking
Patson Daka (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card.
90’+4’Post update
Foul by Patson Daka (Leicester City).
90’+4’Post update
Yerry Mina (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+2’goalGoal!
Goal! Everton 1, Leicester City 1. Richarlison (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Salomón Rondón.
90’+1’Post update
Foul by Ademola Lookman (Leicester City).
90’+1’Post update
Yerry Mina (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’Post update
Attempt missed. Richarlison (Everton) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Vitalii Mykolenko with a cross following a set piece situation.
90’Post update
Foul by James Maddison (Leicester City).
90’Post update
Anthony Gordon (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
89’Post update
Attempt missed. Salomón Rondón (Everton) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Anthony Gordon with a cross following a corner.
87’Post update
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Ricardo Pereira.
86’Booking
Dele Alli (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
86’Post update
James Maddison (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
86’Post update
Foul by Dele Alli (Everton).
85’Post update
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Fabian Delph.
85’Post update
Attempt blocked. James Maddison (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Patson Daka.
84’Post update
Foul by Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City).
Page 1 of 5rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
- Follow Everton v Leicester and the rest of Wednesday’s Premier League actionVisit our Everton pageGo straight to all the best Leicester City content
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
Source: bbc.com
Discussion about this post