MX23RW : Saturday, September 28 19:06:40| >> :600:132609:132609:
[monks data]
Everton logo
Premier League | Gameweek 4
Sep 13, 2021 at 8pm UK
Goodison Park
Burnley logo

Everton
3 - 1
Burnley

Keane (60'), Townsend (65'), Gray (66')
Townsend (53')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Mee (53')
Brownhill (47')

Rafael Benitez: Everton scoring first would be easier for my health

Rafael Benitez: Everton scoring first would be easier for my health
© Reuters
The Toffees came from behind again on Monday to beat Burnley at Goodison Park.

Everton manager Rafael Benitez admits it would be better for his health if his side could score goals before they concede after a thrilling 3-1 comeback win at home to Burnley.

The hosts looked battered and beaten after Ben Mee’s headed opener just after half-time only for a crazy 379-second period to turn the match on its head as Michael Keane and new signings Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray all scored.

In his first two home matches Benitez has twice achieved what predecessors Marco Silva and Carlo Ancelotti struggled to do in winning league games from losing positions – with the club managing just two victories in 59 previous Premier League encounters when conceding the first goal.

Asked what he had done with effectively the same players, the Spaniard – who made a tactical switch from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3 immediately after his side equalised – said: “Not too much. You can see from the first minute of the first game and in every single game the commitment is there.

Andros Townsend scored a stunning goal to put Everton in front
Andros Townsend scored a stunning goal to put Everton in front (Martin Rickett/PA)

“They want to win and compete, they have the desire and want to do well. When you have a problem like you concede a goal they want to react, I think the fans want to react and fans give them more incentive they can do it.

“Every manager wants to win but when you win at home in front of your fans you have to enjoy it for sure.

“Hopefully the next one (game) we can score goals and it will be easier for my health.”

Everton achieved the result without last season’s leading goalscorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose spell on the sidelines may extend beyond the initial two to three weeks Benitez first estimated.

“Could be longer. For me it will be more than two or three weeks,” he added.

“He broke his toe (before the international break) and then he was playing with an injection and pain.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche
Burnley manager Sean Dyche (Martin Rickett/PA)

“It was not easy for him and he was not training like the rest of the team and that is why he had the problem.”

Burnley boss Sean Dyche admitted the “madness of football” cost them dearly, leaving the Clarets still looking for their first win of the season.

“I was very pleased up to the (Everton) goal as we controlled a lot of the game away from home,” he said.

“We conceded an awkward first and then after that (it was) the madness of football. We have a mad six minutes and the game has got away from you.

“That is something we have to get a grip of as it has happened twice this season with the Brighton game (where they conceded two in five minutes).”

ID:463655:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6627:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Rafael Benitez

Click here for more stories about Burnley

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom7511125716
2Sunderland7502146815
3Blackburn RoversBlackburn7430146815
4Burnley7421134914
5Leeds UnitedLeeds7421124814
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd743093613
7Watford74121210213
8Middlesbrough732285311
9Norwich CityNorwich7322119211
10Swansea CitySwansea631274310
11Oxford UnitedOxford Utd7313108210
12Hull City72329819
13Derby CountyDerby7304101009
14Millwall7223121028
15Plymouth ArgylePlymouth7223811-38
16Bristol City6222812-48
17Queens Park RangersQPR7142811-37
18Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds7214914-57
19Luton TownLuton7214611-57
20Stoke CityStoke7205411-76
21Coventry CityCoventry7124611-55
22Preston North EndPreston7124412-85
23Portsmouth7043713-64
24Cardiff CityCardiff7016217-151


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!