Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Thomas

What Michael Keane said to referee as Leicester PA tries to silence Everton fans

Everton fought from behind to earn what could be a vital point in the club's battle to stave off relegation.

Alex Iwobi's second half goal ended the scoring but not the drama in a pulsating contest between two teams fighting for Premier League survival. Jordan Pickford's penalty save was crucial in a match bursting with intrigue but there were other positives for Everton, including the performances of James Garner and Dwight McNeil and the sight of Dominic Calvert-Lewin returning to goalscoring ways.

After a result that feels like both a missed opportunity and a step forward, here are some of the key moments and talking points beyond the headlines.

READ MORE: National media react to Everton draw with Leicester City

READ MORE: Alex Iwobi rewarded as new threat to Everton safety emerges

Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks sharp

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his first goal since his latest troublesome injury and only his second of another injury-blighted season. It was an emotional moment for the 26-year-old, who held his nerve to score the penalty that he had won. Calvert-Lewin has looked sharp since his return and came close against Crystal Palace and Newcastle United as he showed glimpses of his prowess. Before this match he had gone nine league games without scoring against Leicester - his longest run of matches without a goal against a top flight side. The signs were good in the warm-up though as he repeatedly hit the bottom corners with both feet from 16 yards during a finishing drill that showcased a ruthlessness Everton have sorely missed.

Michael Keane's protests fail to convince anyone

Contentious penalty decisions for handball have always been an ugly side of the beautiful game, even before VAR. But the most avid Blue would have struggled to make a case to referee Michael Oliver in defence of Michael Keane for the spot kick awarded to Leicester on the stroke of half time. Jamie Vardy's cross clearly hit the outstretched arm of the unfortunate Keane. One man did appear to be willing to protest the defender's innocence though - Keane himself. In the aftermath of the decision he chatted with Oliver in what looked like an attempt to plead not guilty by pointing to the area of his body the ball hit. It did little to help his cause though. As he pointed to his arm, some supporters joked that all Keane's gestures were doing was making it even clearer where the contact was made - and that a penalty was therefore the right call.

Alex Iwobi earns redemption through courage

After he gave away possession to spark the Leicester attack that ended in the home side's second goal, the camera repeatedly focused on Alex Iwobi. The midfielder was clearly devastated by his error and in the immediate aftermath looked desperate to redeem himself as he burst around the pitch, perhaps driven more by emotion than sense. It would have been so easy for him to have let the mistake get the better of him but instead he had the courage to keep battling. His reward was redemption in the form of Everton's vital equaliser.

Seamus Coleman rallies the Everton faithful from his stretcher

Seamus Coleman is Everton's leader and watching him being stretchered from the pitch was harrowing. His injury looked serious and will likely rule out a key player for crucial games. Despite the severity of the issue, Coleman's passion overcame any distress as he was carried off the pitch. In a sight that rallied the away support he pumped his fists and beckoned to the travelling fans in a clear call for them to keep the faith. Coleman is an inspiration on the pitch and off it. Even if his injury rules him out of contention over the next few weeks he will still find a way to play a key role in the survival effort.

PA system turned up to 11 in only way to drown out Everton fans

The away end at the King Power provided scenes that went around the world last season when Everton secured a win that was vital to the club's survival effort. On Monday night the travelling support was in fine form again throughout the match, holding their own against the home fans as the stadium bounced at the start and then providing the most vocal support as the game went on. After the final whistle it was the Everton supporters who were dominant again. The only way to drown out the Blues was for the stadium audio system to be cranked to a deafening volume and be blasted out as supporters left the ground.

READ NEXT

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.