Carlo Ancelotti admits Southampton’s organisation and discipline made life difficult for Everton as the Premier League pace-setters suffered their first defeat of 2020/21 at St Mary’s on Sunday, speaking to the Toffees’ official website.
Saints fans might not want to be constantly reminded of the most miserable night in their club’s history.
But it was impossible not to think back to that 9-0 defeat to Leicester City as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side produced a performance full of effort, energy, pride and precision to swat aside the league leaders exactly 365 days later.
Danny Ings took on the creative role with two assists as first-half goals from James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams sealed a deserved victory against an Everton side who were kept at arms’ length on the south coast.
Jannik Vestergaard and Jan Bednarek brilliantly marked Dominic Calvert-Lewin out of the game, while James Rodriguez and Gylfi Sigurdsson drowned in Southampton’s tsunami of high pressing.
“We tried in the second half, with difficulties because Southampton were close and compact and we didn’t find a lot of space and opportunity,” Ancelotti said at full-time.
“It was not a good performance but it came after a really good run for us. We found a better team than us and they won.
“(But) we are still at the top of the table, that is an unbelievable achievement for us and we have to try to stay there.”
With Lucas Digne joining Richarlison on the sidelines after a late and contentious red card, Everton’s squad is suddenly looking a bit stretched heading into this Sunday’s clash with Newcastle United.
£40 million Alex Iwobi was hooked at the break after yet another disappointing performance yesterday, while teenager Niels Nkounkou is likely to make his Premier League debut at St James’ Park.
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