Glenn Murray urges Leeds United fans to ‘look away’ after Illan Meslier’s error let Everton win 1-0. The goalkeeper failed to deal with Seamus Coleman’s cross for the Toffees’ goal.
Everton hosted Leeds in a crucial six-pointer at the bottom of the Premier League table on Saturday. Sean Dyche’s side went into the game inside the relegation zone by one point to their guests. But the result lifted the Merseyside outfit up to 16th at the Whites’ expense.
Leeds now rank 19th and are just one point off the bottom of the table after Southampton beat Chelsea 1-0. AFC Bournemouth also won 1-0 at Wolves to climb up to 17th and move above the Elland Road natives. West Ham United will visit Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday.
Dyche has now won two of his three games as the manager of Everton having also beaten Arsenal 1-0. The Merseyside outfit appointed the 51-year-old to replace Frank Lampard in January. While Leeds are still seeking a new manager after firing Jesse Marsch this month.
Michael Skubala oversaw Leeds’ trip to Everton, who posed the more dangerous side over the first half. Meslier had to do well to deny James Tarkowski from the defender’s header. The Frenchman also handled shots by Neal Maupay and Vitaliy Mykolenko after the break.
Meslier stunned Murray vs Everton with the Leeds star’s mistake for Coleman’s goal
But Everton found a way past Leeds on 64 minutes when Meslier failed to deal with a cross by Coleman. The £5m former FC Lorient goalkeeper failed to cover his near post as the 34-year-old fired a hopeful cross into the area. Even though no Toffees player was in the box.
Coleman had to whip the ball into the centre to keep alive Alex Iwobi’s long pass down the line. Robin Koch had put the Republic of Ireland international under pressure, as well. But his delivery arrowed in at Meslier’s near post with the 22-year-old caught out of position.
Meslier astounded Murray with his shocking positioning to allow Colemans’ cross to hand Everton victory over Leeds. The former Brighton & Hove Albion striker also found it hard to say for sure if Coleman had intended to shoot, having regularly checked Meslier’s position.
“Wow, Leeds fans need to look away when it comes to their goalkeeper tonight because this is terrible goalkeeping,” Murray said on the BBC’s Final Score. “He’s about five yards off his line and Coleman finds himself down the right-hand side.
“He’s 100% in a crossing position. I’m not sure – I don’t think we can give it to Seamus Coleman, can we? He really does smash it across but there’s no one in the box. So, have we got to give him the benefit of the doubt?
“Regardless, the goalkeeper’s position was terrible. He fires it across, he goes the wrong side of the goalkeeper into the side netting, and who better to put Everton ahead?”
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