Everton vs Southampton outcome: Rafael Benitez period begins in triumph as Toffees safe comeback victory

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Rafa Benitez can breathe slightly simpler. His controversial Everton stewardship started with a 3-1 victory over Southampton, which was constructed on the bricks of high quality, combat and resilience with debutants, and people the membership financial institution on to carry out, impressing at Goodison.

Ralph Hasenhuttl, conversely, will already be dreading the worst.

The place optimism and hope colors the beginning of a brand new season, the temper at Goodison was apprehensive somewhat than ecstatic throughout the warm-ups: Everton supporters grappling with a supervisor they don’t need, whereas their Southampton counterparts mourned the absence of a striker they didn’t need to lose.

It has been 11 years since Benitez was Liverpool supervisor, however he was. His affection and affiliation to the opposite staff on Merseyside remained concrete by his spells in Italy, Spain and China, in addition to at Chelsea and Newcastle United.

The 61-year-old – solely the second man to take cost of each golf equipment within the metropolis after William Edward Barclay within the late nineteenth century – is as steely as they arrive, although.

Whereas he can fully park his reference to Liverpool, it’s a a lot tougher poison to swallow for a big swathe of supporters.

However they did as kick-off approached right here. When the stadium announcer provided Benitez a heat welcome because the Everton’s new supervisor, there have been no boos and never a smidgeon of dissent.

The second was marked with loud cheers and applause. Benitez clapped the house supporters in return and he, with a restricted squad and financially hamstrung out there, was off the mark.

Rafa Benitez obtained a heat welcome from followers regardless of his Liverpool previous

(Getty Photos)

His Everton, boosted by the provision of England star Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Olympic gold-medalist Richarlison, started filled with verve and intention, with debutant Demarai Grey full of life.

The summer time signing sparked the transfer that led to the primary shot of the match from Allan.

He was concerned once more after being fed by Seamus Coleman and fizzed in a cross that Calvert-Lewin skewed vast of the goal.

A fast counter then noticed Richarlison whip a harmful ball by the six-yard space that simply evaded Everton’s No 9.

The scoreline remained goalless on account of spectacular goalkeeping from Alex McCarthy. A brief free-kick was rolled to Everton’s different new boy, Andros Townsend, on the correct and he delivered a beautiful cross into the world. Simply as Richarlison was readying to poke dwelling, McCarthy smothered.

The form of the sport advised the pure consequence could be for Everton to additional impose themselves and open the scoring.

However Michael Keane, uncertain and uncomfortable, dithered in possession with Che Adams pressurising him. Mason Holgate slipped because the ball diverted his means, sending Adam Armstrong by. He completed emphatically into the far nook to mark his Premier League and Southampton bow, briefly calming fears about the place objectives may come from after the departure of Danny Ings to Aston Villa.

Jordan Pickford saved from Armstrong once more as a smattering of jeers greeted the half-time whistle.

Everton’s response was fast after the break to even issues, quell frustration and restore the raucous environment.

Everton captain Seamus Coleman with goalscorers Abdoulaye Doucoure (left) and Calvert-Lewin

(Getty Photos)

Adams cleared Lucas Digne’s preliminary effort, however Townsend headed the ball again in, which fell into the trail of Richarlison. The Brazilian did brilliantly to flick dwelling first time without work the underside of the bar.

Everton had been enlivened. McCarthy smothered a unfastened ball after an almighty scramble, with Calvin-Lewin attempting to power it in, earlier than Townsend equipped one other nice supply that met Abdoulaye Doucoure’s head however bounced off Richarlison.

Mohammed Salisu defended nicely to thwart Grey and Southampton had been having take in sustained strain, however recovered some management.

A succession of corners troubled Pickford and Everton, however they weren’t accompanied with a decisive edge.

That provided encouragement to the hosts, who gladly seized it. Allan took a free-kick shortly to Doucoure, who picked out Coleman on the correct. The captain chipped intelligently into the world, with substitute Alex Iwobi directing the go again to Doucoure.

The Frenchman spun fantastically to stun James Ward-Prowse, earlier than sending a magnificence into the underside nook.

Everton weren’t executed. Richarlison provided a sensational cross from the correct and Calvert-Lewin buried it with a low header.

The house crowd had been all up, all in. The Benitez period, already riddled with Covid-related and monetary points – not to mention the emotional turmoil of getting him on the helm – begins in triumph and with extra heat than he may have anticipated.

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