The Everton left-back scored against Manchester United at the weekend.
In recent times at Everton there has been a strange thing happening regarding penalty-kicks at the club.
For some inexplicable reason Leighton Baines, one of the best penalty takers in the Premier League, stopped taking them.
Everton’s Leighton Baines scores their first goal from the penalty spot
At the weekend, he stepped up to the plate again. He nestled an important penalty beyond David De Gea, the man who ended Baines perfect penalty record back in 2014, in the game against Manchester United at Goodison Park.
It was a moment that pleased a former Everton left-back who was also partial to a penalty during his time at the club. Michael Ball wrote in the Liverpool Echo this week:
Michael Ball scores penalty for Everton
“Leighton Baines has been a bit shy over the last year or so when it’s come to handing over the ball to team-mates when it comes to penalties and free-kicks so to score past David De Gea was a big moment for him.
“It was great to see that he’s taken the mantle of being the penalty taker again.”
The likes of Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas all began stepping up instead in recent times and, soon enough they all missed. It had Everton fans scratching their heads – especially with Baines’ excellent record from 12-yards.
West Ham’s Adrian save a penalty from Everton’s Romelu Lukaku
Baines’ absence from the penalty spot had become a source of frustration for Everton fans, especially considering the lack of execution from those attempting to dethrone him of his penalty taker status.
To see he is back on duty will be a major relief.
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