Doucoure secures Everton’s record with victory over Sheffield United.
Liverpool, May 12 — Everton defeated demoted Sheffield United 1-0 at a balmy Goodison Park on Saturday, achieving one new club Premier League record while imposing another on their opponents.
Doucoure’s header was the 101st goal surrendered by United this season, one more than the previous record set by Swindon Town in 1993-94 over a 42-game season.
Everton, who are 15th in the Premier League with 40 points from 37 matches, have now won five consecutive home Premier League games without conceding a goal for the first time, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
The game had an end-of-season feel to it, with neither team having anything significant to play for, but Everton generated more opportunities and deserved the victory.
Everton had more confidence after securing their safety and facing one of the poorest teams in Premier League history.
The visitors, in contrast, worked hard and had a stretch of control in the second half, but Jordan Pickford in the home goal had a quiet afternoon, keeping his 13th clean sheet of the season, second only to Arsenal’s David Raya (15).
The home side should have taken the lead when Dominic Calvert-Lewin wonderfully fed Doucoure for a one-on-one opportunity, but the midfielder could not past United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham with no defenders in sight.
On the half-hour mark, the two Everton players collaborated again, and this time the result was a goal.
Dwight NcNeil’s excellent through-ball found Calvert-Lewin, who pulled Foderingham away from his goal and crossed for Doucoure to score into an empty net.
Everton continued to create chances in the second half, and while there were no more goals, it was as comfortable a win as they’d had at Goodison Park all season.
The key to their survival this season has been beating the teams in the bottom six.
Their club-record five-match home winning streak without conceding includes triumphs over Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Brentford, and, most notably, Liverpool. — Reuters
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