Five Of The Best: Watford Against Everton

Watford and Everton have shared numerous competitive clashes and dramatic encounters over the years. Ahead of the next match on Saturday (October 23), here are five of the best meetings between the two sides.

Watford’s first-ever top-flight game took place against Everton in 1982. Gerry Armstrong, fresh off the back of a goal-filled World Cup with Northern Ireland, scored the opener, converting after Ross Jenkins’ effort bounced off of two Everton defenders.

Toffees goalkeeper Neville Southall made an error for the second goal of the game at Vicarage Road when Pat Rice’s free-kick was judged to have been carried over the line, much to the moustached shot-stopper’s fury.

Unbeaten in 10 home matches, Watford were hoping to shock league leaders Everton on their trip to the Vic in 1987, four-and-a-half years after the Hornets’ only other victory in the fixture at the time.

Adrian Heath scored in a first half dominated by the visitors, but Luther Blissett was on hand to equalise in the second half. Striker Mark Falco would ensure the three points stayed in Hertfordshire, scoring the winner late on. Watford were now 10 games unbeaten at Vicarage Road, and up to 10th in the table.

Fate (or the fixture machine) handed Watford a trip to Everton in their first game back in the Premier League in 2015. The Hornets had returned to the top flight for the first time since 2007, and took the lead early on through Miguel Layún. Ross Barkley cancelled out the opener at Goodison Park, before Odion Ighalo opened his Premier League account in style, cutting in on his right foot and bending a shot to the far post.

Arouna Koné would ensure the sides shared the points in the end, but a draw was ultimately well-received by the travelling support.

The Golden Boys leapfrogged the Toffees in the Premier League table with a 3-2 win back in 2016. Prolific striker Romelu Lukaku put the visitors ahead after 16 minutes at Vicarage Road and looked set to end his team’s difficult spell, but Stefano Okaka’s outrageous backheel levelled the score.

Defender Sebastian Prödl then put Watford ahead with a thumping header, before Okaka notched his second of the afternoon 10 minutes later. Belgian international Lukaku would make matters tense with a goal in the last five minutes, but Walter Mazzarri’s side held on to see out the game and move up to seventh in the standings.

Watford were looking for revenge when Everton came to town in February 2019. Lucas Digne’s last-gasp equaliser denied a first-ever Goodison Park win for the Golden Boys in the reverse fixture, but the Hornets would make it three consecutive home victories against the Toffees with a 1-0 triumph at Vicarage Road.

It was also a first game back at the Vic for former Hornets Richarlison and Marco Silva, who weren’t able to take any points back to Merseyside on their return. Andre Gray scored the only goal of the game from close range, putting Watford four points ahead of their opponents in the table. The disappointment mounted for the visitors, who had Kurt Zouma sent off after the full-time whistle too.

Join host Jon Marks and Hornets legend Tommy Mooney for free live commentary from Goodison Park, by heading to www.watfordfc.com/live from 2.45pm (3pm kick-off).