Everton's Premier League safety hopes hugely improve with superb Brighton win
Everton leapt out of the Premier League relegation zone and took a huge step towards safety with a remarkable win at a previously confident Brighton and Hove Albion.
With the hosts riding high after their midweek win over Manchester United and eyeing possible European qualification, Roberto De Zerbi's side had been huge favourites for the clash at the Amex Stadium.
But Everton scored three goals in a match for just the second time all season in the first half of the contest, before going on to record a superb 5-1 victory.
Abdoulaye Doucoure netted the first of a brace inside 33 seconds when he bundled in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross from close range.
Doucoure made it two and doubled Everton’s advantage on 29 minutes, this time latching onto Dwight McNeil’s cross from the left before volleying past Jason Steele.
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Brighton were down 3-0 just before half-time after the ball bounced off the back of Steele’s leg and in for an own goal from McNeil’s cross.
De Zerbi made four changes after the restart and his side seemed to be taking control of the second half until Alex Iwobi went on a run down the left before flicking the ball to McNeil.
Lewis Dunk’s sliding challenge was too late and McNeil was patient as he skipped around Steele and tucked in the Toffees’ fourth.
Three minutes later Alexis Mac Allister clawed one back for the hosts, with the goal standing after a VAR check for offside, before McNeil brilliantly drove in Everton's fifth late on.
Dwight McNeil scored Everton's fourth (AFP via Getty Images)McNeil told BT Sport: “It’s massive. We got a great start on the counter and ‘Doucs’, a great finish. We had a game plan and we stuck to it brilliantly and we deserved the three points.
“We couldn’t get a better start. Credit to the lads. We’re in a difficult position this year but credit to us, now we’ve got to build on this game for the massive three games ahead.
“(It gives us) massive confidence. Now it’s about us kicking on. We’ve got to recover and kick on again. We’ve got a massive game on Sunday (against Manchester City) and then a massive two games after that. We want to do it for ourselves, for each other and for the fans.”
Brighton were left stunned by the defeat (James Marsh/REX/Shutterstock)Doucoure added: “It was perfect, the first half. The game plan was to stay in the middle and to force them to play outside then hit them on the counter with good goals. Today we were fortunate to score good goals.
“It was a pleasure to defend. In the situation we are in we know we need points so to come off at half-time 3-0 up it was a good thing and to defend for 45 minutes was okay.
“(The fans) have been magnificent and we’re very happy to give them a win finally.”
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