Everton player ratings: two score 7/10 but so many 5/10s in Luton Town loss - gallery
Will Rooney
·4-min read
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton reacts after Carlton Morris of Luton Town (not pictured) scored their sides second goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Luton Town at Goodison Park on September 30, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Everton’s insipid form at Goodison Park this season continued as they fell to a 2-1 loss against Luton Town in the Premier League.
The Toffees have now been defeated in all four of their home games in 2023-24, with horrendous defending from set-pieces their downfall as they found themselves two goals down after 31 minutes. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s third goal in as many outings got Sean Dyche’s side back into the game yet profligacy in front of goal - failing to test Hatters keeper Thomas Kaminski throughout - was their downfall.
Everton started the game on the front foot and somehow didn’t break the deadlock. Dwight McNeil crashed a volley not too far wide inside three minutes while James Garner, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Amadou Onana also failed to hit the target when presented with openings.
Helpless to both Luton goals in the first half. Untroubled otherwise but kicking not always on point. (Photo: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Luton fired a warning shot to the Toffees on 20 minutes when Tom Lockyer headed over the bar from a corner. And Everton failed to heed that as Lockyer opened the scoring four minutes later. Carlton Morris cannoned a header off the bar and although the ball fell to Everton’s Ashley Young, his clearance was charged down by Lockyer which ricocheted into the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse when the home side conceded a second on 31 minutes. Morris was left in acres of the space from a Hatters corner and he applied a first-time finish beyond Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal.
The Blues couldn’t believe they didn’t reduce the deficit eight minutes before half-time when Garner headed a McNeil cross against the woodwork from point-blank range. However, Everton did finally notch a first goal at Goodison this season in the 41st minute, although it required a lengthy VAR check. Garner floated in a cross for Onana, who appeared to be having his shirt tugged. The ball bounced around the six-yard box and Abdoulaye Doucoure got a touch for Calvert-Lewin to scramble home.
Everton had plenty of possession as they went in search of an equaliser in the second period yet struggled to create any gilt-edged chances. Calvert-Lewin sent a left-footed volley wide before substitute Beto headed ove the bar. Things would eventually peter out, with the Blues’ two-match winning streak being snapped - boos ringing out from the Goodison faithful as they had to endure yet another loss. Here’s how we rated the Everton players.
Clearance charged down for Luton’s opener while crosses couldn’t find a blue shirt. Subbed in the 78th minute. (Photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
Cumbersome when defending in the first half. Made a couple of important blocks after the break. (Photo: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Made two excellent tackles in the first half to stop Luton counter-attacks. (Photo: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Put a couple of decent crosses in before the interval and clever backheel teed-up chance for Onana. But left with two players at the back post for Luton’s second goal and needed to communicate better. (Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Positive in the first half but spurned two gilt-edged chances. Moved into the engine room in the second period yet couldn’t engineer anything of real note. (Photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
Went close in the 15th minute but should have hit the target. Gave the foul away for the free-kick that yielded Luton’s second goal and then blazed a shot well wide after that. Needed more from him in the second period. (Photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
Started with energy and had some decent moments but screwed a good chance wide and then faded. Subbed at half-time. (Photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
Got the touch for Calvert-Lewin’s goal in the first half. Energetic but quality lacked. Subbed in the 59th minute. (Photo: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Went close to opening the scoring after just three minutes with a well-struck volley. At the centre of Everton’s better play in the first half but faded in the second period. Subbed in the 81st minute. (Photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
Battled away in the first half. Missed two decent headed opportunities but was on hand to bundle home his side’s first goal. Continued to test Luton physically in the second half but didn’t have any proper service before firing into the side netting in stoppage-time. (Photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
Added more craft off the bench on his Goodison debut. (Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Headed a decent chance over the bar. (Photo: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
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