Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his excellent scoring form with two goals as Everton returned to winning ways in an absorbing encounter with Fulham.
Richarlison made an immediate impact on his return from a three-match suspension by providing the cross for Calvert-Lewin to bundle in after just 42 seconds.
In a dramatic game, Bobby Decordova-Reid equalised for the hosts with a clean right-foot finish before England forward Calvert-Lewin went top of the Premier League scoring charts with his 10th of the season from Lucas Digne’s cross.
France left-back Digne provided another assist before half-time, this time for Abdoulaye Doucoure to head home unchallenged for Everton’s third – and his first since joining from Watford.
Fulham missed their third penalty of the season when Ivan Cavaleiro blazed over in the second half after Ben Godfrey’s foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Substitute Loftus-Cheek’s deflected finish from Ademola Lookman’s pass set up a grandstand finish but it was not enough to prevent Fulham from sinking to a seventh defeat in nine games.
Everton back on track
This was much harder than it should have been for Everton – so much so that their players greeted the final whistle with evident relief.
After coasting into a 3-1 lead, they were left hanging on as they allowed Fulham a lifeline before finally securing a first win for seven weeks to reignite their campaign.
After a tough run of results, there were many positives for Carlo Ancelotti to take back to Merseyside.
Alex Iwobi has struggled to nail down a regular slot in the side but was dynamic in south-west London.
With Brazil forward Richarlison eager to make up for lost time in his first club game since 17 October and Digne providing a couple of quality assists, Everton dominated Fulham for long periods.
But Ancelotti will be annoyed his side has failed to keep a clean sheet in the league since the opening weekend, Tom Cairney’s pass splitting the defence for Decordova-Reid to score before Loftus-Cheek netted moments after Fulham’s latest disaster from the penalty spot.
With a tough December looming which includes games against Chelsea, Leicester, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, Everton’s season is at least back on the right track.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Fulham
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Squad number1Player nameAreola
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Squad number34Player nameAina
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Squad number5Player nameAndersen
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Squad number16Player nameAdarabioyo
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Squad number33Player nameRobinson
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Squad number21Player nameReed
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Squad number18Player nameLemina
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Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid
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Squad number10Player nameCairney
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Squad number19Player nameLookman
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Squad number17Player nameCavaleiro
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Squad number9Player nameMitrovic
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Squad number15Player nameLoftus-Cheek
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Squad number29Player nameZambo Anguissa
Everton
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Squad number1Player namePickford
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Squad number22Player nameGodfrey
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Squad number13Player nameMina
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Squad number5Player nameKeane
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Squad number17Player nameIwobi
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Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
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Squad number6Player nameAllan
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Squad number12Player nameDigne
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Squad number19Player nameRodrÃguez
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Squad number9Player nameCalvert-Lewin
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Squad number7Player nameRicharlison
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Squad number10Player nameG Sigurdsson
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Squad number26Player nameDavies
More to follow.
Line-ups
Fulham
- 1Areola
- 34Aina
- 5Andersen
- 16Adarabioyo
- 33RobinsonBooked at 56mins
- 21Reed
- 18LeminaSubstituted forZambo Anguissaat 69′minutes
- 14De Cordova-ReidBooked at 29minsSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 58′minutes
- 10CairneySubstituted forMitrovicat 58′minutes
- 19Lookman
- 17Cavaleiro
Substitutes
- 4Odoi
- 9Mitrovic
- 12Rodák
- 13Ream
- 15Loftus-Cheek
- 23Bryan
- 29Zambo Anguissa
Everton
- 1Pickford
- 22Godfrey
- 13Mina
- 5Keane
- 17Iwobi
- 16Doucouré
- 6Allan
- 12Digne
- 19RodrÃguezSubstituted forDaviesat 74′minutes
- 9Calvert-Lewin
- 7RicharlisonSubstituted forG Sigurdssonat 76′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Holgate
- 10G Sigurdsson
- 14Tosun
- 20Bernard
- 21André Gomes
- 26Davies
- 33Olsen
Live Text
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Match ends, Fulham 2, Everton 3.
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Second Half ends, Fulham 2, Everton 3.
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Foul by Harrison Reed (Fulham).
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Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Fulham).
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Lucas Digne (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Ola Aina (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton).
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Foul by Joachim Andersen (Fulham).
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Ivan Cavaleiro (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ola Aina.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Ola Aina.
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Foul by Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Fulham).
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Tom Davies (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Ademola Lookman (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
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Hand ball by Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton).
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Foul by André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Fulham).
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Everton. Gylfi Sigurdsson replaces Richarlison.
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Substitution, Everton. Tom Davies replaces James RodrÃguez.
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