Everton cursed at Goodison Park after West Ham man adds to wild run after Wolves and Fulham
Everton have enough to overcome this season already without being undone three times by the best goalkeeping performances of the entire Premier League season.
West Ham came to Goodison Park and won 3-1 at the weekend, with Alphonse Areola saving a Beto penalty, the first the club has been awarded all year, in what was rated the number one outing by any keeper this term, according to WhoScored (2 March).
The Portuguese striker responded to the set-back to score one but none of the other 10 shots on target by the home side got past the Irons stand-out, from a total of 22 Everton attempts on the day.
If that wasn’t frustrating enough the outlet indicated after the game that the Hammers man had replaced Wolves’ Jose Sa in the top spot, with the Portuguese also having his best game this term in a win away at the Toffees.
Alphonse Areola puts in Premier League-leading display in win at Everton
That 1-0 defeat on 26 August ensured Everton went without a league point through the first month of the season, after a game where they had 15 shots, seven on target, but none found their way past the visiting keeper.
And to make matters worse WhoScored’s ratings has Bernd Leno’s display in the opening day defeat at home to Fulham (12 August), where Sean Dyche’s men had 19 shots with nine on target but also lost by the odd goal, rounding out the top three across the top flight since that day.
The Toffees boss has already had to contend with austerity in the transfer market, a points deduction for a profit and sustainability breach, and months of takeover uncertainty as he looks to avoid a third-straight relegation battle.
Wolves and Fulham wins at Goodison Park feature stunning Jose Sa and Bernd Leno performances
Despite the 10-point sanction being reduced down to six there still remains the threat of a second, even if it is likely to be cut down itself, so the task doesn’t get any easier.
With well over half the 380 Premier League fixtures already played, and at least two keepers featuring in each so far, it is statistically improbable that all three of the best showings would all come from visiting keepers in wins away at Everton, as the trio conceded just once from a total of 27 shots on target.
Evertonians will have been cursing the club’s luck for various reasons this term and based on those numbers it isn’t hard to see why.
That is between three and nine points that have gone begging in games the Toffees could have otherwise won, were it not for opponents outdoing themselves in goal.
In other Everton news, the Toffees boss attended drinks alongside Richard Masters amid ongoing issues between the club and the Premier League.
For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.