Everton got a small dose of reality on Sunday as they suffered their first defeat of the 2020/21 Premier League season, losing 2-0 to Southampton.
The Toffees have received plenty of plaudits following their fast start to the campaign. Carlo Ancelotti’s side had smashed in 14 goals in their opening five games, dropping just two points.
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They looked well off the pace, though, at the St Mary’s Stadium as they were shut out by the Saints.
Arsenal, and their fan base, can breathe a sigh of relief as their Invincibles record is safe for another season – significantly earlier than in 2019/20.
Ancelotti had to make do without Richarlison following his late red card in last week’s Merseyside derby but James Rodriguez was fit to start despite comments by the manager of him being injured by Virgil van Dijk in that same game.
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Theo Walcott was also not able to play for Southampton due to being on loan from the Toffees.
Southampton found the breakthrough in the 27th minute, with James Ward-Prowse capitalising after Everton failed to clear the ball.
Oriol Romeu forced Jordan Pickford to make a good save but the danger quickly returned.
Danny Ings had a quick exchange with Ward-Prowse before the Saints captain fired past the Everton goalkeeper.
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Che Adams doubled the lead quickly after as he found himself unmarked inside the area as he fired past Pickford.
Ings had picked out his strike partner, recording two assists in a match for the first time in the Premier League.
Stuart Armstrong then had a goal disallowed for offside as Saints went into the break 2-0 ahead.
Everton’s afternoon went from bad to worse as Lucas Digne was sent off after stepping on Kyle Walker-Peter’s ankle in the 72nd minute of the match.
Everton struggled to see any of the ball in the final stages with just 10 men on the pitch and Rodriguez limping around with no substitutions left.
Ancelotti’s side are still top of the table by virtue of goal difference by the Saints surged up to fifth in the table.
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