LIVERPOOL: Everton struck three times in seven minutes in the second half as they came from a goal down to beat Burnley 3-1 and move level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester United at Goodison Park on Monday.

Ben Mee’s header on his 200th Premier League appearance handed Burnley the lead in the 53rd minute but Everton’s response was emphatic as the hosts came alive to claim their third league victory of the season.

Michael Keane headed Everton’s equaliser in the 59th minute before Andros Townsend curled in a sensational left-footed finish to give Everton the lead — his first league goal since joining on a free transfer from Crystal Palace.

Seconds later Demarai Gray went through all alone to slot home Everton’s third goal to the delight of the home fans who had not liked what they had seen earlier and continued Rafael Benitez’s strong start as Everton boss.

And all this was achieved without last season’s leading scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is likely to be out for at least two to three weeks with a broken toe and thigh injury.

Achieving one come-from-behind win, at home against Southampton on the opening day of the season, after all their previous problems might be considered fortunate.

To do it twice in successive matches points to something else; an engendering of resolve and resilience to dig deeper and fight for the shirt — something the Goodison Park faithful have felt has been missing for some time.

“The reaction of the players, it doesn’t matter the system, was very good,” said Benitez. “You can see the fans, as soon as we attack, they are behind the team.”

It is four matches unbeaten now for Benitez and victory lifted Everton into fourth but level on 10 points with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2021