Richarlison strike enough to heap further misery on Saints

In truth it could have been more for the hosts, who went close to adding a second through Ben Godfrey and also had a goal ruled out for offside.

At the other end Saints almost grabbed a draw at the death with their first shot on target of the contest, when Jordan Pickford denied Jannik Vestergaard.

The defeat, Saints’ eighth in nine Premier League matches, leaves them seven points clear of the relegation zone ahead of a huge clash at rock-bottom Sheffield United on Saturday. Everton’s win sees them move to within two points of the Champions League spots.

Looking to mastermind a first Premier League victory since January 4, Ralph Hasenhuttl made three changes to his side that lost at Leeds United last time out. The most eye-catching of those came in goal, where Fraser Forster was preferred to Alex McCarthy.

It was just the second time McCarthy had not started a Premier League game this season, the other coming when he was recovering from coronavirus.

Elsewhere, the injured Oriol Romeu was replaced by Moussa Djenepo, while Danny Ings returned in place of Nathan Tella up front.

Everton welcomed back Dominic Calvert-Lewin to lead their line, while Gylfi Sigurdsson and Allan also started, but there was no place in the matchday squad for James Rodriguez due to injury.

Saints, who arrived having not won at Goodison Park since 1997, made a solid enough start on Merseyside, without working Pickford.

And they were soon punished at the other end by the in-form Richarlison. After Calvert-Lewin beat Mohammed Salisu in the air, Sigurdsson collected possession and slid it through to the Brazilian.

Richarlison showed great composure, skipping around Forster and tapping in for his third goal in as many games. It was also the first time Forster had conceded all season, following a run of four previous clean sheets.

Richarlison went close again soon after, stooping to head towards the bottom corner, only for both a smart Forster stop and the offside flag to deny him.

Saints finally registered their first effort in anger through Nathan Redmond, who fired a volley over the bar.

But it was Everton who were looking the far more dangerous threat, getting the ball in the net again midway through the half.

Lucas Digne’s free-kick to the back post was headed across goal by Mason Holgate for Michael Keane to turn in, but, after consultation with video assistant referee Jonathan Moss, the goal was ruled out for Holgate being offside in the build-up.

Saints failed to heed the warning. Another free-kick caused havoc again, this time from the classy Sigurdsson. The Iceland international floated a delivery for Richarlison, who beat the offside trap but could not turn his volley on target.

For all of the visitors’ good spells in possession, they could not find any quality in the final third, with Djenepo looking the most likely creator.

Saints did have a big penalty shout waved away before the half was out. Che Adams chased onto a lofted through ball and got into the box before going down after tussling with Godfrey, but referee Martin Atkinson dismissed the claims.

After a subdued start to the second period, it was another Everton free-kick which almost broke the deadlock. Keane was again involved, heading across goal and the ball fell kindly for Godfrey, whose effort was denied by a last-ditch Vestergaard intervention.

Saints did carve out an opening soon after via a set piece of their own – James Ward-Prowse’s corner headed wide by Salisu.

That proved to be the Ghanaian’s final act as he was replaced by Tella, with a defensive reshuffle seeing Djenepo drop to right-back and Jan Bednarek move central.

Hasenhuttl turned to his bench with 13 minutes to play, introducing Dan N’Lundulu in place of Adams.

And Saints did fashion one late chance to nick a share of the spoils. Redmond worked the ball out to Djenepo, who found space in the box and took aim towards the top corner, but fired agonisingly wide.

Then, as the clocked ticked towards 90 minutes, Pickford was finally called into action. After a couple of blocked shots following a corner, the ball fell kindly to Vestergaard who slid in to shoot, but Pickford was alert to preserve his clean sheet.

Saints: McCarthy; Bednarek, Vestergaard, Salisu (Tella, 63), Bertrand; Armstrong, Ward-Prowse; Djenepo, Redmond (Watts, 88); Adams (N’Lundulu, 77), Ings.

Unused subs: Ramsay, Stephens, Ferry, Jankewitz, Chauke, McCarthy (g/k).

Booked: Armstrong, Tella.

Everton: Pickford; Holgate, Keane, Godfrey, Digne; Allan, Doucoure, Gomes (Iwobi, 87); Sigurdsson, Richarlison (King, 90+1); Calvert-Lewin.

Unused subs: Astley, Broadhead, John, Onyango, Nkounkou, Bernard, Virginia (g/k).

Booked: None.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.

VAR: Jonathan Moss.