Everton at Hull City: FA Cup Live Blog and How to Watch | The Blues advance 2-1 at half-time
Halftime thoughts: Everton overcame an early nightmare to lead to the break. They snatched control from a Hull City team that started out strong, but it was the 3G show that did it for the Blues – Gray, Gordon and Gomes came in to play today.
45 + 1 ‘- Mykolenko drops Williams at roughly the same spot where Hull’s free kick came from. He was reserved too. Begovic strikes clearly, the shot back is well over.
There’s the halftime whistle, the Toffees lead 2-1.
40 ‘- Gordon wins a free kick. Kenny hits it, Godfrey’s shot is blocked for a corner. Gray takes it, slips into the box and a Hull ricochet sends it to another corner. Keane almost makes it, but the hosts can back off.
36 ‘- Gray looks to play in Mykolenko charging forward, the goalkeeper rushes to gather.
Smith wins a corner on Godfrey even though the ball came out of Hull’s last player. Deep corner, but foul on Gomes ends the game.
33 ‘- Two quick chances for the host, Begovic recording well both times.
Rondon leaps on a loose ball and finds Gordon for a high shot. The youngster is caught by a slipped tackle after the ball has gone, but of course no VAR so no foul.
31 ‘- GOMES! 2-1 Everton now! Nice piece of play here from Gordon, finding Kenny wide open on the right. The center from the back is well attacked by Gomes who leans in to direct him, while the goalkeeper spoils him.
28 ‘- Michael Keane almost scored! A one-two with Gordon finds him as the furthest forward and he tries to get him to the far post but the keeper saves well.
27 ‘- Handball in the box! Greaves’ arm was away from his body and Gordon controlled the ball. But of course VAR is only used on Premier League pitches, so the Toffees don’t get an obvious penalty here.
24 ‘- Gray tests Baxter at the near post from a distance and lands a corner. Gray overtakes him.
23 ‘- POST! Gordon with a great run into the box and stops with the ball, but drags his shot to the near post just nearby, hitting the outside of the post.
21 ‘- GOAL! Gray goes 1-1 with a real quality moment. Twisted and walked past his man, then played a nice back-and-forth with Gordon before making his way home at the far post.
19 ‘- Gomes and Gray build up their muscles and Hull takes a shot overhead. Hoots echoed from the travel rack. Well Named.
16 ‘- The 6’4 “Eaves flees from Coleman and fires in a shot that Begovic blocks for a corner that is cleared.
13 ‘- Everton have nothing here as they already resort to a long ball as the home side stroke the ball with ease.
7 ‘- Gray beats his man at the bottom left and takes a corner. Down and out of Gordon.
6 ‘- Center in the box, looped header from Eaves and Begovic saves very well to prevent him from becoming 2-0. Corner in the box, Hull wins again the head but he misses.
3 ‘- Looks like it’s Godfrey – Keane – Coleman in the back, Mykolenko and Kenny are the wingers. The home crowd loves this start.
1 ‘- In progress in Hull. Gray immediately knocks Mills down for a free kick. Swung in the box and goal for the hosts. A new low for Everton here. 1-0 at the 45th second. Neither Mykolenko nor Rondon really attacked the ball.
Rafa Benitez picked his side for the Cup clash today, and he walked away with the ultra-conservative 5-4-1, with new signing Vitaliy Mykolenko taking the start. Seamus Coleman will line up in the baseline and no room for Lucas Digne again. It’s a two-man midfielder again, unfortunately, with Allan and Andre Gomes in the middle, Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon.
Meanwhile, Jordan Pickford takes a break with Asmir Begovic at the start and Salomon Rondon leads the attack. Nathan Patterson will be on the bench with the return of Andros Townsend. Ellis Simms will have to ask himself what he can do to get some playing time even as Cenk Tosun sits on the bench in front of him.
Everton
Starting XI: Begovic, Kenny, Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Allan, Gomes, Gordon, Gray, Rondon
Subscribers: Pickford, Dobbin, Doucouré, Gbamin, Holgate, Onyango, Patterson, Tosun, Townsend
City of Hull
Starting XI: Baxter, Greaves, Smallwood, Docherty, Eaves, Honeyman, Lewis-Potter, McLoughlin, Williams, T. Smith, Bernard
Subscribers: Ingram, Cannon, Longman, Moncur, M. Smith, Fleming, Huddlestone, Hinds, Mills
Everton are a team in crisis right now – a win in twelve games will be enough. Pressure is mounting on manager Rafa Benitez whose press conferences become increasingly combative as questions continue to be asked about his selections, tactics and general demeanor, especially with regard to senior player Lucas Digne.
Today’s trip to Hull City is a chance for the Blues to put aside much of the turmoil surrounding the club by starting what will hopefully be a long FA Cup run. The hosts have their own struggles in the league, but they’ll be upset, especially seeing how obediently Everton have come in recent matches.
Competetion: FA Cup third round
Start date and time: Saturday, Jan. 8 at 9:30 a.m. PT / 12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. BST
Stadium: KCOM Stadium, Kingston-upon-Hull, England, United Kingdom
Capacity: 25,586
Weather: 44 ° F / 7 ° C, light rain, 84% chance of precipitation, winds 11 mph
TV: N / A – United States; BBC One – UK; DAZN – Canada, beIN Sports HD 3, SuperSport Variety 2 ROA
Radio: evertontv, BBC Radio 5 Live
Direct: Fubo, ESPN +, BBC Sport Web, BBC iPlayer, ESPN Play Sur, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, DStv Now, RUSH, Sony LIV, JioTV
Game Thread: Live blog above starting one hour before game time
* Royal Blue Mersey has affiliate partnerships and may earn commissions for products purchased through affiliate links provided.
Information from LiveSoccerTV.com
The Blues last faced the Tigers in the 2016-17 season, while in the Premier League. That season they drew 2-2 before winning the home game 4-0. Everton have faced Hull twice in the FA Cup in the past, drawing 1-1 each time in 1927 and 1964.
