Phil Thompson stunned by Everton fans during win v Southampton
Phil Thompson has detailed his shock at how Everton fans reacted to last weekend’s 3-1 win over Southampton at Goodison Park.
Everton conceded midway through the first half as Adam Armstrong netted a debut goal for the south-coast side, but the Blues rallied back in the second half through goals from Richarlison, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Ex-Liverpool defender Thompson, speaking on the Where’s Jeff? podcast [19/08/21], has poked fun at the change of fortunes.
The former Sky Sports pundit said: “It was ‘Rafa out’ on social media at quarter to four, and at five it was ‘Rafa is king’ and ‘give him more money to spend’.
“Oh my goodness, the change in the attitudes was just astonishing.
“It’s amazing what a couple of goals can do.”
Steady
It wasn’t quite as full-front as Thompson suggests here.
Of course, the Benitez detractors that refuse to get behind him had their knives out straight away to ridicule him and call for his head.
That was always going to happen.
But the vast majority, especially inside Goodison Park, were willing to give him a chance to showcase his abilities and see how much he could extract from the team.
That couldn’t be evidenced in just 45 minutes.
He had to be afforded time, and lo and behold within two minutes of the restart we had equalised through Richarlison.
The Blues went on to score two more as Benitez made the perfect start to his reign.
The stadium was united, and if there are more performances like that, the connection will only grow.
In other Everton news, the Blues are in talks to sign this title-winning forward, bid lined up for Anfield equaliser hero.
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