Shearer reacts as MOTD reveals new footage of Crystal Palace v Everton controversy
Everton dug their heels in to secure a fourth win in five Premier League games on Saturday evening against Crystal Palace.
Everton’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (15 February) also stretches the unbeaten run under David Moyes to five games, moving the Toffees a whopping 13 points clear of the relegation zone as a gulf emerges.
Moyes’ new signing Carlos Alcaraz had a vital impact with his first goal on his full debut for his new side deciding the encounter.
Beto’s opener was previously cancelled out by Jean-Philippe Mateta – but the three points did not come without a slice of controversy.
Crystal Palace controversy as goal chalked off
Oliver Glasner and his Crystal Palace side came away licking their wounds having been beaten by a well-oiled Everton machine, but they will simultaneously feel aggrieved after what happened during the clash.
With the game goalless after 20 minutes, Jefferson Lerma thought he had opened the scoring for the hosts in South London with a header from a left-wing corner delivery, only to be greeted with the assistant referee’s flag.
It was deemed the ball had gone out of play from Justin Devenny’s initial set-piece, giving Moyes’ men an out-of-jail card.
Speaking on BBC Match of the Day (15 February), Alan Shearer reacted to the incident: “The only thing I would say is that [the assistant] doesn’t actually flag until the ball hits the back of the net. So, he leaves it late, but you can’t argue with what he’s done.”
Fellow pundit Joe Hart added: “If you were to really push me, I don’t think it went out, but the linesman has obviously made his call. Once he’s made his call and it does go to VAR, you can’t prove definitively one way or the other, and it has to stay with the on-field decision.”
Everton 13 points clear of the drop
The new-found form at Everton has been simply stunning to watch – we talk about a new manager bounce but this has been a tidal wave.
The Toffees and Moyes just appear to be a match made in heaven, a fact that has not dwindled in the slightest during his near-12-year absence from Merseyside.
Moyes just has a real knack of understanding the club and in turn getting the best out of a group of players many thought to be limited under previous managers.
They had their functioning strengths under Sean Dyche, with whom many remained convinced they would still stay in the Premier League had he stayed as manager all season, but they have unlocked a new level under Moyes which has now seen them steer well away from relegation threat.
It goes deeper than the team collective, too – players such as Beto, Jake O’Brien and Jesper Lindstrom are finding a new lease of life. Jordan Pickford, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite continue their leadership on the field.
Whatever Moyes told Alcaraz before his first start on Saturday clearly worked, and fans are witnessing a personality shine through their team which has given them back the forgotten feeling of enjoying the football again.
Six games remain at Goodison Park before the doors shut for good, including the visits of Manchester City, Arsenal and next up Manchester United (22 February).