Everton made a rocking start to their Premier League season but were only able to come away with a point after drawing 2-2 with newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers. And guess who made the best start to his Toffees’ career?
None other than Marco Silva’s summer signing Richarlison. The Brazilian grabbed a brace, scoring a splendid solo second goal that sent the Toffees’ fans into raptures.
Marco Silva, the man who brought the Brazilian youngster to Watford from Fluminense a year ago, once again signed the attacker for a bumper fee of £40million (h/t Telegraph). But the former Hornets attacker immediately justified his price tag and shut his critics up, scoring his first goal in less than 20 minutes.
The Brazilian was devastating for Watford under Silva last season and he has hit the ground running at Everton as well. The 21-year-old does not look fazed under pressure and was exciting to watch every time he got on the ball at the Molineux.
Playing on the left side of a three-man midfield, Richarlison was given all the freedom to play his game on the flank. The striker was constantly on the move and posed a massive threat to the likes of Matt Doherty and Ryan Bennett. Richarlison flourished in Silva’s high-intensity system that often surprises teams on the counter.
The youngster is adept at running directly with the ball, which makes it hard for defenders to keep him at bay. Richarlison often uses his blistering pace to ghost past defenders and he is an excellent reader of the game as well. His positional play is magnificent and the youngster links up well with his fellow attackers.
Although Theo Walcott endured a largely underwhelming game, Richarlison and Cenk Tosun seemed to have built up a strong relationship. The pair were constantly exchanging the ball between them and always looking to play one another in.
Richarlison’s versatility will surely come in handy for Silva as the season progresses. He is often deployed either as a midfielder or a winger on the left flank, but the Brazilian is also capable of playing through the centre. Also, if Silva is ever troubled in the forwards’ department, the manager can also deploy Richarlison as the striker.
There’s no doubt that the former Watford attacker will justify his price tag. In fact, there’s a certain feeling that he already has.
As Everton gear up for their first home game of the season against Southampton, Silva should be overjoyed about Richarlison’s injury update. The winger limped off in the last game, but according to Daily Mirror, it was just a case of cramps that brought him off. Hence, the Brazilian must be in contention to start the game against the Saints.
