Everton looked fitter, more creative and a better cohesive unit than at most points of the last two years but were ultimately haunted by a theme that has pockmarked this team: toothless finishing at one end and a hint of sloppiness at the other.
Fulham were second best for large swathes of this match and were bailed out by goalkeeper Bernd Leno on a number of occasions. But the difference is that Marco Silva’s team took their big chances and Everton did not, with the Toffees missing 18 shots.
Bobby Decordova-Reid scored Fulham’s second-half winner on the counter-attack, which came against the run of play to give Silva a valuable win at his old employers after a summer of speculation linking him and star man Alekandar Mitrovic to Saudi Arabia moves.
Fans in the Gwladys Street End unfurled a banner before the match in solidarity of Dele Alli after the Everton player’s heartbreaking interview with Gary Neville this summer that read, ‘We are with you Dele, together… we are stronger.’
Togetherness has been rare at Goodison Park in recent years but Everton showed it here as they defended in unison – barring a couple of rare blips – and showed a willingness to throw bodies forward to cause problems throughout.
Marco Silva’s Fulham came out on top in their Premier League opener away to Everton
Michael Keane thought he had put the Toffees ahead in the first half
However, James Tarkowski was judged to have fouled Bernd Leno in the build-up
But ultimately Everton can blame the lack of a decent No 9 for this defeat. Neal Maupay led the line in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s continued absence and got into dangerous positions but showed a lack of clinicality that has stalked his career in the Premier League.
Everton are working on signing another forward to supplement injury prone Calvert-Lewin and Co, after the £15million addition of youngster Youssef Chermiti this week. But director of football Kevin Thelwell admitted in his programme notes that ‘it has not been an easy window’.
Though it was no shock to see Fulham dominate the ball – they went into half-time with 70 per cent of possession – it was a pleasant surprise to observe Everton’s willingness to throw bodies forward and cause problems from all areas when counter-attacking.
Despite having less than a third of the ball in that first period, the Toffees registered 10 first-half shots to Fulham’s one, with keeper Leno by far the best player on the pitch early on after bailing out his team on multiple occasions.
Neal Maupay led the line in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s absence – he is not yet fit, though he has not suffered any setbacks in his recovery despite not being in the squad. The former Brighton man continued the theme of his career. He gets into good positions but is he clinical enough?
The Frenchman carved out his first chance of the season after just 32 seconds, when he was sent through on goal but pulled a shot wide from an admittedly tight angle. Later in the half, he was poked through again but charged down and denied by Leno.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was not chosen to start but looked sharp coming off the bench
Abdoulaye Doucoure had the best chance of the half, though, when one of many zapping Everton counter-attacks resulted in the big midfielder charged through on goal with a team-mate either side of him after evading the defence. He was perhaps greedy and shot straight at Leno.
Doucoure turned creator for Maupay minutes later as he diverted an Alex Iwobi cross goalwards and the French striker tried to stab it home inside the six yard box but Leno made a last-ditch intervention to deny him. Sound familiar?
Despite the German goalkeeper’s growing list of strong saves, he nearly gifted Everton the lead on 35 minutes when he came a long way for a cross but seemed to drop the ball, allowing Michael Keane to tap into an empty goal.
James Tarkowski was harshly judged to have fouled Leno, prompting a cacophony of boos at Goodison Park and angry protestations from Sean Dyche at fourth official Anthony Taylor. Tarkowski did not jump or impede a lucky Leno in any way other than standing still.
At the other end, new signing Raul Jimenez put in a solid shift and often dropped deep to impact attacks. His most notable moment was his last touch, when the former Wolves striker hit the post in Fulham’s first real dangerous moment of the game.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid netted the winner for Fulham as they won a vital three points
Key men Andreas Pereira and Mitrovic then entered the pitch to add a new dimension for Marco Silva’s men, with the away end chanting ‘f*** the Saudis’ in relation to Al-Ahli’s failed pursuit of the manager and Al-Hilal’s continued attempts to sign the striker.
But Everton continued to threaten and really should have scored on 67 minutes when Leno made a full-stretch save to deny Iwowbi’s curling effort and Nathan Patterson rattled the crossbar from point-blank range with the rebound.
Arnaut Danjuma then came on for his Everton debut but it was Fulham’s substitutions that made the Toffees pay before the Dutchman could even touch the ball. Pereira found a pocket of space in Everton’s box and crossed to fellow sub Decordova-Reid to tap home.
It was a goal that went completely against the theme of the match, which had seen Everton look well drilled at the back and counter-attack well. This was an example of Fulham sensing an opportunity and exploiting holes in Everton’s defence.
Everton did not accept defeat there and continued to carve out decent chances. New on-field captain Tarkowski perhaps should have hit the target when he headed wide at the back post late on, while Doucoure continued to threaten.
But it wasn’t enough and Fulham defended tall to quell a late aerial bombardment by Everton and saw out a valuable away win.