Gylfi Sigurdsson has called on Everton to replicate the intensity showcased in their dominant second-half display against Fulham as the Blues target back-to-back Premier League victories.
Sigurdsson was at the heartbeat of an effervescent performance at Goodison Park last Saturday – hitting a brilliant brace as Marco Silva’s side blew away their opponents after the break.
The Toffees’ Club-record signing has kicked off the campaign in impressive fashion, with his two goals in the 3-0 triumph taking his tally to four for the season.
And his opener against the Cottagers – a stunning left-footed effort that arrowed into the bottom corner – was his 18th top-flight strike from outside the box since 2011-12.
As well as his goalscoring threat, Sigurdsson’s inventiveness has also caught the eye. He has made 19 key passes already in the Premier League this season, a total surpassed by only Manchester City’s Spanish wizard David Silva.
While Sigurdsson’s performance earned him the man-of-the-match award last weekend, he was eager to highlight the Blues’ collective display.
He insists Everton will strive to play with the same energy and authority when they face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
“In the game against Fulham, we went from being comfortable in possession to being more intense in the second half and I think that paid off in the end,” he said.
“We have got some fantastic players and we’re excited for the coming season.
“I’m enjoying playing under the manager [Marco Silva] very much. The belief is there, we believe in what we’re doing.
“The boss is fantastic. He knows what he is doing and he is working us really hard."
Speaking to evertonfc.com recently, former Everton midfielder Pat Nevin described the Icelander as “spectacularly special”.
The BBC pundit says Sigurdsson’s outstanding quality, football intelligence and selflessness particularly resonate - and he showcased these qualities in equal measure in a standout performance against Fulham.
The 29-year-old whipped in 15 crosses and fired in six shots, totals not bettered by any player on the pitch, as he helped drive the Blues towards victory.
Sigurdsson got through an exceptional amount of work, too, covering 6.7 miles during the match. Only Tom Davies (seven miles) covered more ground for Everton.
The former Tottenham Hotspur man also embarked on 12 sprints, while his “willingness to do the dirty work” - as Nevin describes it - was also on display. The combative Idrissa Gana Gueye was the only player to make more tackles than the playmaker during the game.
Sigurdsson also showed impressive resilience after missing a penalty early in the second half, with the score deadlocked at 0-0. He explained he was determined to make a match-winning contribution after seeing his spot-kick cannon off the crossbar.
“It could have gone both ways for me,” explained Sigurdsson, who has won 62 caps and scored 20 goals for his country.
“But I thought, forget about it, and make sure you either score or set up a goal.
“I had to stay mentally strong and I got the two goals in the end.
“For my first goal, I just tried to use the defender and go around him and luckily it found the bottom corner. It gave us a lot of confidence to keep going and get the victory.
“It was great to get the three points and a first clean sheet of the season. Now it is up to us to build on that.”
