Fulham’s prospects of qualifying for Europe via eighth place suffered a major blow, as quickfire goals from Michael Keane and Beto propelled Everton to a 3-1 comeback win at Craven Cottage.
TV Info - Broadcasters
Marco Silva’s team started brightly on Saturday, yet failed to build on Raul Jimenez’s 17th-minute opener.
Buoyed by Vitalii Mykolenko’s fortuitous 48th-minute equaliser, and a wonderful save from Jordan Pickford, Everton mounted a second-half fightback – Keane heading home in the 70th minute before Beto’s strike snuck under Bernd Leno’s gloves three minutes later.
Fulham wanted a spot-kick deep in stoppage time for handball against Mykolenko from Adama Traore’s cross, but referee Darren England confirmed the on-field decision of no penalty following a VAR review.
While Everton are up into 13th place, Fulham remain 11th and, with only two matches remaining, they are four points off eighth place, which could provide entry into Europe next season. Victories for two rivals in the race for European football, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion, compounded a disappointing day for the Cottagers.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
38 | +12 | 65 |
| 8 |
Brighton
BHA
|
38 | +7 | 61 |
| 9 |
Bournemouth
BOU
|
38 | +12 | 56 |
| 10 |
Brentford
BRE
|
38 | +9 | 56 |
| 11 |
Fulham
FUL
|
38 | 0 | 54 |
How the match unfolded
Fulham were rewarded for a dominant start when Emile Smith Rowe lifted a delicate cross from the byline into the centre of the area, where Jimenez outjumped Mykolenko and powerfully headed home.
Harry Wilson went close on two occasions and Alex Iwobi ballooned a shot over when found in a promising position, and Fulham were made to pay for that profligacy on the stroke of half-time.
Carlos Alcaraz forced a corner after robbing possession in Fulham’s box, and with the hosts failing to clear their lines, Mykolenko’s shot deflected in off Andreas Pereira.
The lively Wilson looked set to put Fulham back in front with an audacious lob, but the backtracking Pickford made a brilliant stop to tip it wide.
Pickford’s work proved extra fruitful when substitute Dwight McNeil swung in a deep corner from which Keane headed home, with the goal confirmed after a VAR review.
Everton had their third goal three minutes later – Alcaraz’s pass found Beto, whose attempt squirmed through Leno’s grasp – with that late, rejected penalty shout being the only thing Fulham were able to manage in response.
Fulham’s fatal blow?
Fulham’s form has taken a dip at just the wrong time, and it is now four defeats from their last five Premier League matches.
They started with purpose, penning Everton back inside their own penalty area and showing plenty of attacking intent, and earning their reward as Jimenez found the net with his first top-flight goal since March.
Fulham had the opportunities to add to their tally, but former Everton playmaker Iwobi spurned a decent opening, and Wilson was denied twice by Pickford, who got down low to keep out a driven attempt from the Wales international before the break and then pulled off that sensational stop in the second half.
That profligacy proved costly, though poor work at the back also played its part – Keane was given a free run to meet McNeil’s corner at the back post and Leno should have done much better with his attempt to save Beto’s finish.
Fulham are now four points adrift of eighth place, which could earn its final occupants a spot in Europe next season should Manchester City win the FA Cup.
The Cottagers travel to local rivals Brentford in a huge clash next week, needing a win to keep any slim European ambitions alive.
Everton claim another memorable away win ahead of Goodison farewell
Despite David Moyes taking Everton out of relegation trouble, the Toffees went into Saturday’s match on the back of just one win in 10 league games, with that victory coming away at Nottingham Forest in April.
Indeed, their recent poor form was summed up by squandering a two-goal advantage against already relegated Ipswich Town at home last time out.
Everton did not start well, spending large swathes of the first half without the ball, and were made to pay when static defending in their six-yard box resulted in them going behind.
Yet a scarcely deserved equaliser at the end of the half, through a big slice of good luck, provided the foundations for a memorable turnaround.
The second half was a much more well-rounded, disciplined showing, and while substitute McNeil made a big impact and Keane marked his first league start under Moyes with a goal, Alcaraz stood out as a constant livewire, creating an opening of his own nature in the first half after strong pressing from the front, while he also set up Beto for Everton’s third.
Everton will now prepare for one of the most emotional matches in their history as they host Southampton in what will be their match at Goodison Park.
Club reports
Fulham report | Everton report
What the managers said
Marco Silva: "Very simple in my opinion. We were the best team on the pitch and in the first 30, 35 minutes, it was the level we want. In the last 10 minutes we started to lose some of the main things we had to be in control of the game. It's about concentration and focus. We have to blame ourselves because it didn't happen before but it did in the last few weeks."
David Moyes: "It didn't look [like it would go] that way after the first 20, 25 minutes. I thought we were terrible on the ball but we stuck at it. We are a resilient crew and the players did a good job in the end. It was a worry for me how this game would go [due to missing key players] but great credit to the players, we hung in a little bit and certainly improved in the second half."
Remaining PL fixtures
Key facts
Everton came from 1-0 down to win a Premier League away game for the first time since October 2022 (2-1 at Southampton), having failed to win any of their previous 27 games on the road when conceding first before today (D6 L21).
Fulham have dropped 28 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, the joint-most of any side (along with Southampton) and the Cottagers' most in a single campaign in the competition.
Since Moyes’ first Premier League game back with Everton (15 January), only Alexander Isak (10), Mohamed Salah (10) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (nine) have scored more top-flight goals than Toffees striker Beto (seven).
Through Mykolenko (1-1) and Beto (3-1), Everton scored two goals from outside the box in a single Premier League away game for the first time since December 2018 at Burnley (Lucas Digne scoring both from range).