Calvert-Lewin scores twice as Everton beat Fulham

Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his excellent scoring form with two goals as Everton returned to winning ways in an absorbing encounter with Fulham.

In a dramatic game, Bobby Decordova-Reid equalised for the hosts with a clean right-foot finish before England forward Calvert-Lewin went top of the Premier League scoring charts with his 10th of the season from Lucas Digne’s cross.

France defender Digne provided another assist before half-time, this time for Abdoulaye Doucoure to head home unchallenged for Everton’s third – and his first since joining from Watford.

Fulham missed their third penalty of the season, awarded for Ben Godfrey’s foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek, when Ivan Cavaleiro slipped, hit the ball against his wrong foot and sent it over the bar.

Substitute Loftus-Cheek’s deflected finish from Ademola Lookman’s pass set up a grandstand finish but it was not enough to prevent Fulham from sinking to a seventh defeat in nine games.

Everton back on track

This was much harder than it should have been for Everton – so much so that their players greeted the final whistle with evident relief.

After coasting into a 3-1 lead, they were left hanging on as they allowed Fulham a lifeline before finally securing a first win for seven weeks to reignite their campaign.

After a tough run of results, there were many positives for Carlo Ancelotti to take back to Merseyside.

Alex Iwobi has struggled to nail down a regular slot in the side but was dynamic in south-west London.

With Brazil forward Richarlison eager to make up for lost time in his first club game since 17 October and Digne providing a couple of quality assists, Everton dominated Fulham for long periods.

But Ancelotti will be annoyed his side has failed to keep a clean sheet in the league since the opening weekend, Tom Cairney’s pass splitting the defence for Decordova-Reid to score before Loftus-Cheek netted moments after Fulham’s latest disaster from the penalty spot.

With a tough December looming which includes games against Chelsea, Leicester, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, Everton’s season is at least back on the right track.

Fulham’s spot-kick nightmare continues

After a poor start to life back in the Premier League, there have been signs that Fulham could be turning a corner following a hard-earned point against Sheffield United and victory over West Brom.

Against Everton they were once again authors of their own misfortune.

They gave away possession for the visitors’ opening goal, failed to mark Doucoure who made it 3-1 and suffered their third straight failure from the spot.

In their previous game on 7 November, Lookman missed a Panenka-style penalty with the last kick of the game against West Ham.

With Aleksandar Mitrovic also having missed from the spot against Sheffield United on 18 October, Portuguese forward Cavaleiro stepped forward to take responsibility after Godfrey’s foul with Fulham trailing 3-1.

The former Wolves player stepped forward – and was penalised for double hitting the ball after slipping and kicking it against his non-kicking foot, sending his effort flying high over the bar.

Although substitute Loftus-Cheek managed to pull a goal back, Fulham could not find an equaliser and now face daunting games at Leicester and Manchester City before hosting Liverpool on 12 December.

Three points but defensive worries continue – the stats

• Everton have conceded two or more goals in six consecutive Premier League games for the first time since October 2008.
• Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid scored in back-to-back home league games for the first time since April 2018 for Bristol City.
• Only Chelsea (12) have scored more goals in the first minute of Premier League games than Everton (10 – level with Tottenham).
• Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s opener after just 42 seconds was the earliest Premier League goal Everton have scored since April 2017 against Leicester (30 seconds).
• Since making his Premier League debut in August 2018, only Trent Alexander-Arnold (26) and Andrew Robertson (25) have provided more assists in the competition among defenders than Everton’s Lucas Digne (15).

What’s next?

Fulham have more than a week to prepare for their next Premier League game at Leicester on 30 November (17:30 GMT), while Everton host Leeds at Goodison Park on Saturday (17:30).