Ashley Williams’s 86th-minute winner against Arsenal on Tuesday was his first goal for Everton and the surge of blue pride it provoked could not have been better timed. It would be overstating the case to suggest Ronald Koeman and his players can now go into Monday’s Merseyside derby brim full of confidence, especially with Phil Jagielka suspended as a result of the last-minute mayhem in the Arsenal match, but at least the cloud of gloom that was beginning to surround Goodison has been lifted.
Before the Arsenal victory Koeman had been worrying aloud that his players were not strong enough to stand up to Watford, never mind Liverpool. It was a fair point. Everton’s encouraging start to the season had been squandered through defeats at Dean Court, Turf Moor, St Mary’s and Vicarage Road, not to mention the boos that were heard at home to Swansea before a late Séamus Coleman equaliser prevented the relegation strugglers escaping with an unlikely three points.
Related: Williams atones for error as Everton come from behind to sink Arsenal
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