Everton dominated once again on Saturday, but their woes at Goodison Park remain.
Unable to offer that killer instinct to finish off a game in which they had deservedly taken the lead, they fell to two late goals which resigned them to yet another loss. A tale as old as time…
The Toffees have won just three home games this season, a truly torrid run that is potentially on track to finish as their worst record in Premier League history.
However, once again the failure to win was not completely owed to their own incompetence, but rather the brilliance of an opposition’s goalkeeper.
Alan Shearer detailed this just yesterday…
What Alan Shearer said about Everton v West Ham
Speaking with Micah Richards and Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football podcast, the former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers striker was asked for his standout player from Saturday’s clash.
He was quick to offer up Alphonse Areola as the clear winner, with his praise unrelenting for the Frenchman.
Shearer noted: ‘I mean the keeper was brilliant wasn’t he, Areola was fantastic. Man of the match performance, save after save, but it was a great win for West Ham going there and beating them because it’s a tough place isn’t it Everton, especially with what’s going on with them.’
Areola made nine saves, including one from the penalty spot, and prevented 3.11 expected goals, via Sofascore.
Another godly goalkeeping performance at Goodison Park
When Bernd Leno came to Goodison Park on the opening day of the Premier League season, putting in an otherworldly display, there was still positivity despite falling to defeat.
The hosts had deserved to win, and were it not for a stellar showing from the German, they would have done so handsomely.
It was a one-off display. Or so they thought.
The very next home clash saw Jose Sa enjoy a similarly unstoppable afternoon on Merseyside, keeping another clean sheet despite seeing his goal peppered. Once again Everton had been thwarted by the opposition’s goalkeeper.
Now, many months deeper into the campaign, such an occurrence is becoming frustratingly commonplace, with Areola just one in a long line of shot-stoppers to stun the Toffees.
In fact, the three aforementioned goalkeepers actually boast the three highest ratings for performances by those in their role, all coming at Goodison Park.
It is quite laughable the lack of fortunate Sean Dyche is receiving, but the longer this season drags on in such a fashion, the less funny and more worrying this trend will become.
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