Richarlison and Salomon Rondon strike as Everton and Newcastle share spoils
Everton 1-1 Newcastle: Richarlison replied to Salomon Rondon's opener as the points were shared
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Your support makes all the difference.Everton’s Merseyside derby hangover must last another few days as Newcastle departed Goodison Park with a point after Salomon Rondon’s first half opener was cancelled out before the break by Richarlison.
It was no more than the visitors deserved and indeed it was they who came closest to winning it late in the game.
Newcastle should have been just the sight Everton needed after that most sickening of derby day defeats.
A Newcastle side after all which hadn’t even managed a goal in five straight defeats against the Toffees and which hadn’t won a midweek Premier League match since 2013.
But there are always complications though, this time in the shape of Magpies manager Rafa Benitez, a man who had helped create a large part of the Anfield history Everton had failed to overcome on Sunday.
The Spaniard made three changes at Goodison as he too looked for a recovery from weekend defeat, Jamaal Lascelles, Jacob Murphy and Christian Atsu all returning with a back five in place which kept Everton largely at bay.
Everton’s Marco Silva offered a first league start to Ademola Lookman with Cenk Tosun up front and Kurt Zouma at centre-back.
The constant rain probably accurately reflected the mood of most Evertonians for the past few days but, devastating defeat aside, the Merseyside derby had served to highlight the impressive progress Silva is making with his team. They couldn’t follow it up with similar quality here though.
After his painful weekend error Jordan Pickford was welcomed back to Goodison with a huge ovation from the home support as his name was announced before kick-off – loyalty’s what they do round here. The Newcastle supporters were less generous to the former Sunderland man, the goalkeeper receiving almost as much stick as (still) club owner Mike Ashley.
Unfortunately for Pickford one of his first actions was to pick the ball out of his net as the visitors went ahead with virtually their first attack.
Murphy beat Coleman too easily on the left and when his teasing cross eluded Mina, Rondon was there to put his fourth goal of the season into the roof of the net 19 minutes in.
Martin Dubravka had to be alert to prevent the home side hitting straight back though, gathering Gylfi Sigurdsson’s shot well considering the slippy ball.
Everton pushed on, their corner count rising, and should have been level ten minutes from the break.
Richarlison released Digne on the left and when his cross fell to Sigurdsson in front of goal, the outcome looked inevitable. Ferderico Fernandez was the last hope though and he delivered, producing an incredible block and celebrating as if he’d scored.
Those celebrations were short lived though as Everton deservedly levelled three minutes later.
Tosun had already had a penalty appeal turned away by Lee Mason when the latest in a steady stream of Everton corners finally paid dividends.
Newcastle didn’t deal with Sigurdsson’s delivery and Richarlison was lurking at the back post to lash home from close range, his seventh of the season.
Only a miraculous save from Dubravka prevented Everton from leading at the break, the Slovakian flinging himself in front of Tosun’s point blank volley after another good cross from Digne.
Everton started the second half as they’d ended the first – on top – but without really troubling Dubravka. Indeed it was Pickford who made the next notable save, well positioned after Atsu’s quick turn and shot.
Diame was relieved to see only yellow after his lunge caught Richarlison while DeAndre Yedlin’s stamp on Digne’s foot brought similar punishment.
Both managers looked to the bench for a winner in the last 20 minutes, Silva calling on Theo Walcott and Bernard while Benitez sent on Ayoze Perez and Joselu.
With 15 minutes left Walcott had the chance to make Pickford the hero, the goalkeeper’s superb kick putting him away beyond the defence. The winger lost his way though and could earn only a corner.
A set-piece looked the most likely avenue for an Everton winner, with Yerry Mina claiming he was hauled down by Lascelles from a Digne free kick but Mason remained unmoved.
Indeed it was Newcastle who came closest to a winner, Atsu’s low shot turned away well by Pickford diving low to his left before the same player shot straight at the keeper after a fine pass from Perez.
Ultimately a good point for the visitors even if their 13 point haul from their opening 15 games now equals their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign.
For Everton a run of four straight home wins is at an end amid a few days they will be keen to forget.
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