Everton v Leicester: Sky Sports pundit stunned by ‘brilliant’ first-half moment
Sue Smith was dumbfounded after Abdoulaye Doucoure scored within 10 seconds to give Everton the lead against Leicester City on Saturday.
David Moyes’ era has gotten off to a brilliant start, especially with back-to-back wins over Tottenham and Brighton, and the Toffees fired into the lead against the Foxes at Goodison Park on 1 February.
Doucoure latched onto a long ball forward from Jordan Pickford, bulging the back of the net in the Premier League for the first time this season, with Beto doubling their lead just five minutes later, and then tripling their lead.
Speaking live via Sky Sports News [1 February, 3:01pm], Smith said: “Oh, wow – what a start for Everton. It’s Doucoure with the goal. It’s a long ball forward, really good in the from Beto, and Doucoure is onto it, who gambles.
“It’s a brilliant finish into that far corner, cool and calm. It’s literally straight from kick-off. Doucoure gambles and what a goal it is.”
Abdoulaye Doucoure welcomes himself to David Moyes era at Everton
Doucoure has struggled to rediscover his previous heights, though so too had much of the squad under Sean Dyche, but that all looks to be changing under Moyes.
The attacking midfielder netted seven goals and assisted another two in the Premier League last term, but with his only goal this term coming in the EFL Cup, he has struggled for form.
His early goal against the Foxes would have given him, and the entire squad, an incredible boost after a number of devastating injury setbacks to players such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Orel Mangala.
Moyes would have been desperate for his squad players to step up, even against one of the league’s biggest strugglers, and that is exactly what has happened at Goodison Park.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men came into the game off the back of a shock victory against Spurs, so there was no telling what could have happened, but the Toffees grabbed their chance for a win.
In other Everton news, Alan Myers has shared the Toffees’ new transfer priority after news of the signing of Carlos Alcaraz.
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