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Everton 1-3 West Ham
by James Nalton
at Goodison Park
WEST HAM goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was the standout player as his side found their way to a 3-1 win at Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Travelling Hammers fans sang their goalkeeper’s name at intervals throughout the match, acknowledging his saves.
At the final whistle, he was the player his teammates and manager rushed to congratulate.
Areola’s first heroic act was to save a penalty from Beto after a handball from Kurt Zouma.
The Frenchman then went on to make numerous other stops, and one particular standout save from a deflected Beto shot in the second half.
By the end of the game, he had made nine saves.
“I think the result was harsh on Everton but our goalkeeper made four or five outstanding saves,” West Ham boss David Moyes said after the game.
“But we also scored three goals at Everton, and Everton don’t concede too many.
“The keeper made saves which he’s there to do, so I have to say I’m thrilled with the win, it was a wee bit of a throwback but I really enjoyed it.”
Beto did manage to find the net with one effort for Everton, which gave them a deserved lead given the number of chances they were creating.
Had they made more of their opportunities the game could have been over earlier and ended up with a much more positive verdict for the home side.
“You have got to score more than one when you are doing that kind of work,” Everton manager Sean Dyche said.
“It’s the responsibility of everyone. I’m looking at the talent we’ve got and looking at the quality we’ve got and it just seems an odd thing.
“How we are not scoring more goals is just bizarre.”
A Zouma header levelled the scores before Tomas Soucek found a goal out of nowhere, curled into the far corner with the outside of his right boot to give West Ham an unlikely lead.
A third was added by Edson Alvarez, receiving the pass from Jarrod Bowen on the break as Everton threw everyone forward.
Everton lack a forward with the quality and confidence to make more of the chances they create, but even if they had such a player Areola would have taken some beating in this form.
