Everton secured a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United at Goodison Park thanks to Abdoulaye Doucoure’s seventh Premier League goal of the season.
The Toffees were assured of safety heading into Saturday’s contest, their final home match of the season, but they kept their positive run of form going against their relegated opponents.
Doucoure enjoyed a host of chances in the first half before his breakthrough arrived after 31 minutes following good play from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Ben Brereton Diaz looked bright for the away side after the break, but he couldn’t help mount a comeback for Chris Wilder’s men, who will finish the season bottom.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
38 | -18 | 32 |
| 18 |
Luton
LUT
|
38 | -33 | 26 |
| 19 |
Burnley
BUR
|
38 | -37 | 24 |
| 20 |
Sheffield Utd
SHU
|
38 | -69 | 16 |
How the match unfolded
Dwight McNeil’s floated delivery to the back post should have led to an Everton goal after he found the head of Doucoure in space on 11 minutes, but the midfielder failed to divert his effort into the back of the net from a few yards out.
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Just minutes later, Doucoure was presented with another gilt-edged chance as he arrived in the box one-on-one with Wes Foderingham from Calvert-Lewin’s cutback, but the goalkeeper spread himself well to make a superb stop.
The Toffees opened the scoring in the 31st minute after Calvert-Lewin latched on to a through-ball from McNeil before rounding the goalkeeper, and he picked out Doucoure inside the box to head into an empty net.
Brereton Diaz found himself in space on the edge of the area after the break as the Blades searched for an equaliser, but his shot flew into the stand behind the goal.
Shortly after, the lively Brereton Diaz broke into the Everton box and looked to create a goalscoring opportunity, but a strong last-ditch challenge from James Tarkowski prevented a shot.
Wilder’s side continued to push in the final stages of the match, and Cameron Archer was allowed space to turn on the edge of the penalty area in the 80th minute, but he dragged his shot wide with the Blades' last chance of the match.
Everton’s unbeaten run continues
Since losing 6-0 to Chelsea, Everton have won four and drawn one of their five Premier League matches, their longest unbeaten run of the season.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has kept 13 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, his second-most in a single campaign after keeping 14 in 2018/19.
101 goals conceded for the Blades
Sheff Utd have conceded 101 Premier League goals this season - only the second side to do so in a single campaign in the competition after Swindon in 1993/94. In a 38-match (or lower) English top-flight season, only Darwen (112 goals conceded in 1891/92) and Leicester City (102 in 1908/09) have shipped more.
The Blades will end the season bottom of the table regardless of their result on the final day, when they will host top-four chasing Tottenham Hotspur.
Club reports
Everton report | Sheff Utd report
Final Premier League fixtures
Key facts
Everton have kept a clean sheet in 85 per cent of their Premier League wins this season (11/13), the highest share in the division. Indeed, each of their last 14 league wins at Goodison Park have been to nil (six in 2022/23, eight this season).
In his 89th match in charge, Chris Wilder suffered his 50th Premier League defeat. Only Mick McCarthy (79 defeats) and Danny Wilson (87) have reached this unwanted milestone in fewer matches than the Sheff Ud boss.
Sheff Utd have lost their final away match in each of their last five Premier League campaigns, with their last success coming at Everton in the 1992/93 season (2-0).
Everton have been beaten in only one of their final home league matches across the last nine seasons (W67 D1), winning the last four in a row since a 3-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth in 2019/20.