Jesper Lindstrom delivered a blunt assessment of Everton's performance against Southampton, as Sean Dyche's team prepare for a crunch fixture against West Ham.
Everton suffered a 1-0 loss at Southampton on Saturday, as the Saints claimed their first Premier League win of the season.
That defeat snapped a five-game unbeaten run in the league, albeit Everton are still only on nine points after 10 games.
Saturday's trip to West Ham, whose coach Julen Lopetegui is under pressure after a poor run of form, represents a big game for both clubs.
And Lindstrom, who joined Everton on loan from Napoli in July, said there are few excuses for the Toffees.
"We want to win games, we want to win points, we want to win games like this. It's not good enough," he said, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
"Overall we have to demand more of each other. We have to train hard, we have to keep going.
"The first half especially was not good enough, was not what we expected. We are a much better team than we showed.
"The second half was better we were running more, fighting more, creating chances. I think we deserved at least a point with all the chances but on the other hand I don't think we deserved it because I know we can play much better than we did.
"In the first half, we were too far from each other. From my perspective, my touches were not great.
"It was better in the second half. We created good chances of receiving the ball high but didn’t have the last part, the shot."
West Ham lost 3-0 to in-form Nottingham Forest last time out.
After that match, Jarrod Bowen told Premier League Productions: "We've been on the receiving end of a lot of defeats by a lot of goals, so we need to look at ourselves as players. I think that's a given, but I think we've got to accept this feeling, accept it today, move on and in the last game before the international break we have to put it right."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham - Jarrod Bowen
Bowen has scored in his last two Premier League home games for West Ham, last scoring in three in a row at the London Stadium in February 2022.
The England forward has also had a hand in five goals in his last six league games against Everton (three goals, two assists).
Everton - Dominic Calvert-Lewin
All three of Calvert-Lewin’s Premier League goals against West Ham have come at the London Stadium, with the last two coming in 1-0 wins for Everton.
Only against Newcastle United (five) has he scored more away goals in the competition than he has at West Ham.
MATCH PREDICTION: WEST HAM WIN
West Ham have conceded 15 goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League games so far in 2024, the most such goals any side have conceded in a single calendar year in the competition. Five of those have come so far this season, a joint-league high, along with Ipswich Town.
However, having lost their first three Premier League home games this season, West Ham have now won their last two at London Stadium. They last won three in a row in May/August 2023, while they last did so in the same campaign in October 2022.
Everton, meanwhile, have lost their last three Premier League away games against London sides by an aggregate score of 12-1. They last lost four in a row in the capital between January and September 2018.
West Ham have won five of their last eight Premier League games against Everton (L3), as many as they had in their previous 30 against them (D9 L16).
However, the Toffees - who won the corresponding fixture 1-0 last season - have taken more Premier League games in total (29) and away from home (13) against West Ham than they have against any other opponent.
Dyche's team have lost their first four Premier League games this season, conceding 13 goals in the process. However, they have lost just one of their subsequent six (W2 D3), with their four goals conceded the fewest of any side in that time.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
West Ham - 50.2%
Everton - 24.6%
Draw - 25.2%
Garvey Maceo rise from cusp of defeat to stun McGrath High and clinch third daCosta Cup crown
It is often said that it’s never over until it’s over, and Garvey Maceo High epitomized that saying when they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a 5-3 win on penalties against first-time finalist McGrath High in a pulsating ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup final at the National Stadium on Saturday.
The Linstead-based McGrath High seemed destined for glory after Devone Davis struck in the 15th minute, but Omarion O’Brian shattered their dreams with a last-gasp equalizer in the 90+7 minute to send the game into the dreaded penalty shootout.
Much like they did in the semi-final against Glenmuir High, the Clarendon-based Garvey Maceo held their nerves best from the 12-yard spot to secure their third title, adding to their triumphs in 2007 and 2021.
Acting Head coach Lester Hibbert was overwhelmed with pride, having stepped in seamlessly for Merron Gordon, who took a sabbatical this season.
“We just had to believe. We never gave up, even when the odds were stacked against us, because a true believer is a real believer. We did it. Being past students of the institution is what drove us and gave us the passion to keep going. Even when it seemed as if the time was going to run out on us, we fought, and this one is for those who never stopped believing in us,” a beaming Hibbert said in a post-game interview.
Both teams began the contest with attacking intent, and McGrath drew first blood when Davis dispossessed defender Malik Robinson and unleashed a fierce left-footer that whistled past Garvey Maceo’s goalkeeper Garfield Tomlinson for his 12th goal of the season.
Garvey Maceo pressed for an equalizer and created half-chances but failed to capitalize.
McGrath, eager to extend their lead, also missed crucial opportunities, as they remained 1-0 up at the break.
The second half offered little in terms of clear chances. However, McGrath’s Dontae Anderson nearly doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, but Devany McIntosh cleared his header off the line after Tomlinson spilled a corner from Shane Pusey.
Minutes later, Jim Mitchell had an opportunity to seal the game for McGrath but fired into the side netting in the 77th minute.
With time ticking away, Garvey Maceo launched a desperate push, and it paid off in the dying moments of added time when O’Brian twisted and turned before finding space for a low right-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box that sailed past Orlando Griffiths, sparking wild celebrations.
In the shootout, Garvey Maceo again showed nerves of steel, converting all five of their attempts through Devany McIntosh, Tyreek McKenley, Delano Thompson, Malik Robinson, and Rajay McLaughlin.
Meanwhile, Jim Mitchell, David Hutchinson, and Marcelo Gordon found the net for McGrath, but Isaac Mason’s effort was denied by Tomlinson.
McGrath’s Head coach, Jermaine Thomas, who guided the school to its historic Ben Francis Cup win last year, must wait a little longer for a first daCosta Cup crown but was still gracious in defeat.
“Once Devone was out, it was always going to be difficult for us, but nevertheless, they fought and fought gallantly. We turned up and we showed Jamaica that this is the school from Linstead and we can compete, but a lapse in concentration at the back cost us in added time, but still they played their hearts out, and I am extremely proud of them,” Thomas noted.
LA Galaxy 2-1 New York Red Bulls: Paintsil and Joveljic goals secure MLS Cup
The LA Galaxy claimed a record-extending sixth MLS Cup by beating the New York Red Bulls 2-1, with early goals from Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic securing the trophy.
The Galaxy raced into a two-goal lead within 13 minutes as they made a blistering start on home soil at Dignity Health Sports Park, and they held firm after the Red Bulls halved the arrears midway through the first half.
Gaston Brugman threaded a lovely throughball into the path of Paintsil, who slotted his finish under Carlos Coronel for a ninth-minute opener.
Four minutes later, Greg Vanney's men had breathing space as Joveljic escaped the Red Bulls backline to prod home with the outside of his boot.
Daniel Edelman narrowly avoided putting through his own net soon afterwards, then New York clawed one back through captain Sean Nealis, who volleyed home following an inswinging corner Emil Forsberg.
Noah Eile missed one glorious chance before teeing up another for Dante Vanzeir, but the Galaxy held firm, almost adding a third goal when Miki Yamane cannoned a shot against the post shortly after the hour-mark.
Data Debrief: Galaxy out on their own
The LA Galaxy already held the record for most MLS Cup triumphs ahead of Saturday's showpiece game, with their sixth success now taking them two clear of D.C. United.
The win ended their 10-year wait for a title, last claiming the crown when a team containing Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane beat the New England Revolution in 2014.
Girona 0-3 Real Madrid: Bellingham and Mbappe score as Blancos close on Barcelona
Real Madrid closed the gap on LaLiga leaders Barcelona to two points with a commanding 3-0 win at Girona, with goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe.
Second-placed Madrid have 36 points with a game in hand on Barca, who drew 2-2 at Real Betis earlier on Saturday, after inflicting Girona's sixth loss of the campaign.
Bellingham opened the scoring in the 36th minute by capitalising on a loose ball and firing home from the centre of the box, with the England international then turning provider for Madrid's second goal.
Ten minutes into the second half, his defence-splitting throughball teed up Guler to double Madrid's lead, though Bellingham was withdrawn with an injury soon afterwards.
Mbappe then added further gloss shortly after the hour mark, firing home from a tight angle for his ninth league goal of the season.
Data debrief: Mbappe brings up double century
Mbappe's ninth league goal for Madrid was also his 200th in his career across Europe's top five leagues, on his 261st such appearance.
He netted 16 times for Monaco and 175 times with Paris Saint-Germain.
He was not the only Blancos star with something to celebrate, as Bellingham made it five straight games with a goal for the very first time in Europe's top leagues, though his second-half exit will concern Carlo Ancelotti.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
