Everton vs Leicester City. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance39,376.
Everton 4
- A Doucouré (1st minute)
- Beto (6th minute, 47th minute)
- I Ndiaye (90th minute)
Leicester City 0
Everton 4-0 Leicester: Abdoulaye Doucoure nets after 10 seconds as David Moyes continues bright start
Report and free match highlights as Everton beat Leicester 4-0 with goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure, Iliman Ndiaye and a double from Beto to move 10 points clear of relegation zone; Leicester take 72 minutes to mount one and only shot on target
Saturday 1 February 2025 19:43, UK
Abdoulaye Doucoure netted Everton's fastest-ever Premier League goal as their David Moyes-led resurgence continued by thrashing Leicester 4-0 at Goodison Park.
Doucoure brought down Jordan Pickford's long clearance before finishing across Mads Hermansen with just 10 seconds on the clock at Goodison Park as Everton went on to blow away their visitors and register a third win in four under their returning manager.
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They were 2-0 up inside six minutes as Jarred Branthwaite played Beto through for the Brazilian to score a goal almost identical to the first.
A first-half performance of total dominance was complete when Beto, who had scored only once all season prior to the game, got his second in 45 minutes as James Garner slid him in behind before he smartly sidefooted inside the near post.
Leicester took 72 minutes to register their first and only shot on target of the day as they were found wanting in both boxes yet again, which left Ruud van Nistelrooy and his side on the wrong side of an eighth defeat from nine games in the Premier League.
There was still time for their worst moment to follow, as Caleb Okoli's attempted clearance rebounded off centre-back partner Wout Faes and into Iliman Ndiaye, who added a late fourth in added time.
Everton move 10 points clear of the bottom three, and nine clear of Leicester, who could yet end the day inside the relegation zone should Wolves claim a point against Aston Villa.
Van Nistelrooy: Performance a surprise after Spurs win
Leicester head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy speaking to Sky Sports:
"I expected more, we were all surprised. We wanted to build on last week, it took a lot of effort to get out of the relegation zone [against Tottenham].
"It wasn't good enough today. A bad start, very bad. Minute one and minute six, we're down 2-0 against an Everton team that is hard to beat.
"It's totally not necessary to concede a third just before half-time either. Credit to Everton for their performance too.
"We have to look at why it happened, we looked more solid over the past weeks and today we were open and they punished us very hard."
Moyes: Fans have waited for that Beto performance
Everton boss David Moyes speaking to Sky Sports:
"Sean Dyche did a great job here, put a lot of good things in place. I'm trying to add to it, and if I can make it better, then great.
"The players have started to get some chances, and play in a way where we can do that. But they deserve the credit, they've adapted very quickly and let's be fair - we've not had much time.
"Beto played really well, the supporters have been waiting to see him and hoped he could produce. If you're a centre-forward, your job is to score the goals and they were two really good goals.
"Garner's pass for the third was exquisite, and for a boy who's not played much and is just back through injury, it was great to have him back for 80 minutes."
Analysis: Foundations to build on in final Goodison season
Sky Sports' Ron Walker:
"Evertonians took some criticism, including from within their own ranks, for demanding more of Sean Dyche before the eventual acceptance all round - including from the man himself - that his time had run its course.
"The manager lamented minimal funds and a squad lacking attacking talent for the dour football which struggled to produce enough goals to bring in more than the occasional victory - remember him defending his record "if you add wins in"?
"But all of that looks questionable now after David Moyes' return, bringing with it not only three wins from four games but seven goals.
"Four of those came from open play against Leicester. Prior to Saturday's victory, they had managed only nine all season away from set-pieces at Goodison Park.
"They played high-tempo, attractive football for much of the game with Vitaliy Mykolenko bombing down one flank, James Garner pulling the strings in midfield and Abdoulaye Doucoure finally back in the goals.
"There is no great mourning of the loss of regular first-choice striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, even if little was expected of his replacement, Beto, given he managed only four goals in 44 previous Premier League appearances.
"But two goals before half-time, both clinical, composed finishes, only further serve the idea that this team has far more potential than it showed, than even some Evertonians realised.
"Things will not always be this rosy, and things at Goodison Park can still be rough around the edges. But once the bounce of David Moyes' return wears off, there are foundations to build upon deeper than previously thought."