Everton have rediscovered their potency from set-pieces just in time to face Liverpool in the Merseyside derby
Sport
Rufus Allirajah Lane
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Sean Dyche is present during the Premier League match between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, on December 4, 2024
(Image: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Coming off the back of a goalless November, Everton have rediscovered their favourite route to goal ahead of the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. After conceding four without return at Old Trafford on the weekend, Everton returned the favour against Wolves on Wednesday night, with all four goals coming from set pieces.
Dwight McNeil’s dead ball delivery had proved to be the team’s biggest threat in the 23/24 season but, before last night, it appeared that opposition teams had snuffed out that threat. That was until Wolves came to Goodison with zero answers to the Englishman’s crosses and allowed Everton to show their superiority in the air.
Everton’s 18 goals from set pieces in the Premier League last season was the second-highest tally but before the Wolves game, the Blues had converted just four times from dead ball situations this campaign. The buzz and expectation among fans when Everton won a corner had begun to dissipate but that feeling has now firmly been restored.
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Following Ashley Young’s opener from a freekick, McNeil’s delivery coupled with the Toffees’ presence in the air proved too powerful for Gary O’Neil’s side throughout the night. After being let off with a warning when James Tarkowski’s headed effort was disallowed due to Orel Mangala being adjudged to interfere from an offside position, Everton converted a further three times from set pieces.
With Everton’s dismal goalscoring of recent, it was imperative Dyche found a way to get the ball in the back of the net, not just to improve results but for belief’s sake too. Heading into the derby on Saturday, Everton fans can at the very least enter Goodison with the knowledge that they have a way of hurting Liverpool.
The previous Merseyside derby, in April, should also provide Evertonians with a level of faith. Everton’s first Goodsion Park derby win in 14 years was a result of Jurgen Klopp’s team being unable to deal with Everton’s set-piece threat.
Jarrad Branthwaite’s opener in the fixture came as the visitors failed to clear their lines from a whipped-in freekick before the ball fell to the 22-year-old as he nudged it underneath Allison and over the line. Everton later put the game to bed when Dominic Calvert-Lewin rose high and uncontested to nod McNeil’s cross home in front of the Gwladys Street.
Arne Slot will hope his back-line can deal with Everton’s dead ball deliveries better than his predecessor did last time out. Although his side did show some set-piece vulnerability last night against Newcastle when Caoimhin Kelleher decided to let a crossed freekick sail over his head and into the path of Fabian Schar who scored to make it 3-3 late in the game.
Dyche is aware that his team will need to be assured in defence and dangerous from set pieces for Everton to have the best chance at getting a result in the derby so will be encouraged by the display he saw mid-week. Liverpool are also very much aware of Everton’s set-piece threat but, as Wolves found out, that doesn’t mean they will be able to stop it.