Ancelotti Salutes 'Complete Forward' Richarlison

Carlo Ancelotti hailed “complete striker” Richarlison after the Brazilian’s fabulously-executed strike settled Everton’s clash with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Richarlison employed his quick feet to telling effect after collecting a pass from Lucas Digne, the 22-year-old manoeuvring the ball in a tight space before firing home his 10th goal of the campaign.

Manager Ancelotti felt Everton deserved to claim maximum points after spending long periods of the game in the ascendancy.

The manager nevertheless acknowledged his side had to “suffer” as they clung on towards the end with Brighton buoyed by remaining within touching distance of a draw.

Jordan Pickford produced a tremendous stop from Glenn Murray and the same Brighton player, on as a substitute, lifted a close-range effort wide two minutes from the final whistle.



But Richarlison’s effort seven minutes before the break ultimately proved the difference between the sides and extended Everton’s unbeaten Premier League home run to a fourth match.

“Richarlison was a fantastic talent before me [Ancelotti's arrival last month] and will be a fantastic talent after me,” Ancelotti told evertontv.

“He has skills and ability… power and strength and speed.

“He is really the complete striker

“Him and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are a really good combination.

“And, we have to wait for him to adapt, but Moise Kean is another fantastic striker.

“For 60 minutes, we played well, with intensity, good football.

“The last period of the game was difficult, we were only 1-0 up and wanted to win.

“We were not so fresh and had difficulties.

“In the end we suffered but we deserved the result.

“It was an important three points for us and we have to look forwards.”

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01:45 Sun 12 Jan 2020

CALVERT-LEWIN ON 'VITAL' EVERTON RESPONSE

Striker discusses Richarlison partnership


Everton created a succession of openings in the first half.

Theo Walcott was denied a penalty following a lengthy VAR check after the forward appeared to be impeded in the box by Lewis Dunk.

Goalkeeper Ryan saved from Richarlison shortly before the South American found the net.

Ryan denied Calvert-Lewin after the interval, while the same Everton player was ruled to have handled the ball home after Michael Keane’s header had come off the bar.

Australia international Ryan was at full stretch to keep out another Calvert-Lewin effort.

But Brighton grew in confidence and Leandro Trossard struck the bar with an drive from 18 yards.

Pickford leapt to his right to repel Murray’s header before the veteran forward hooked his late attempt the wrong side of the post.

Ancelotti, who takes his team to West Ham United next Saturday, brought on Fabian Delph, Seamus Coleman and Yerry Mina as he sought to stem Brighton’s late surge.

“I changed the wingers because they worked a lot,” said Ancelotti.

"Walcott and Bernard did fantastically offensively and defensively.

“I needed fresh players, we were 1-0 up so we had to defend in the last few minutes.

“Here at Goodison Park we feel comfortable because it is our house and we have the support of the fans.

“The fact we didn’t concede a goal in two games [Everton beat Burnley 1-0 last time at Goodison] can help us improve and show, if possible, better football."

Ancelotti, who has three Premier League wins from four games as Everton boss but saw his side exit the FA Cup at Liverpool six days ago, added: “The reaction was good. But my idea is that we don’t have to react, we have to act. If we have to react, it means before we did not act well.

“It is part of my job to keep consistency in the team, this team can be competitive with more intensity and playing better.

“But we have time to work, when I arrived there were a lot of matches [and limited training opportunities].

“I am really proud to be here. The atmosphere [in the stadium] and the facilities we have are fantastic.”