Everton humbled by 17-year-old Daniel Jebbison of relegated Sheffield United

The Everton fans are finally allowed back into their beloved stadium this week. They may think twice about whether to bother. 

Their team’s dismal Goodison record could make it the first 6,500 capacity fixture that does not sell-out.

Hope of a glorious homecoming in a late surge for European qualification were trashed by a Sheffield United teenager making his first Premier League start, Danel Jebbison offering the first hint about where his club’s promotion surge might emanate from next year.

Most sobering is that Everton were deservedly beaten by a relegated side which claimed only its sixth win in 36 Premier League games.

Sheffield United have picked some memorable venues for the finest performances in this farewell to the top flight season, their only wins coming here and at Old Trafford.

Jebbison, an England Under 18 international, condemned Everton to their ninth home defeat, matching an ignominious Premier League record set in 1993-94. For perspective, Everton escaped relegation on the final day of that campaign.

This season promised so much for Carlo Ancelotti a couple of months ago, notable away wins swelling optimism even amid prolonged home discomforts.

Surely Sheffield United, doomed for months and averaging a goal every two games in this horrific bounce back down season, could not signal the end of Ancelotti’s European quest?

The all-or-nothing nature of the fixture ought to have benefited Everton, yet it was Sheffield United relishing playing without pressure.

Shackles released, the visitors offered a reminder that next season they are likely to join Norwich and Watford in the yo-yo club.

With a nod to that future, caretaker manager Paul Heckingbottom unleashed Jebbison and probably left every Sheffield United fan asking, ‘why didn’t we see him sooner?’ Jebbison’s name was not even printed on the back of Everton's matchday programme.

The hosts will remember him as much as Sheffield United fans now.

It took the 17-year-old seven minutes to venture into what - for most of his team-mates - has been an undiscovered country this season. He scored a goal. 

Jack Robinson broke through another frontier by claiming an assist, teeing up the opening goal with a cross from the left into the six yard box where Everton’s defence generously vacated the premises.

Jebbison should have had a second later in the first half when Mason Holgate’s slack backpass sent the striker into a one-on-one with Jordan Pickford.

The England keeper was up to the task, but this was symptomatic of an abysmal performance by Ancelotti’s side. The Italian has been at a loss to understand the contrast between home and away form. It is so bad even Sheffield United have double Everton’s home points tally in 2021. This was as perplexing as any of the defeats.

Yes, the home side should have equalised before half-time when Aarron Ramsdale produced a double save to deny Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin. That followed James Rodriguez’s cross, the Colombian having spent the previous 39 minutes cloaked in such anonymity, one wondered if he was sheltering from the torrential rain.

Ramsdale earlier pushed aside Allan’s clever attempt with the outside of his right foot, and saved a Calvert-Lewin header after 20 minutes.

But desperation consumed Everton early, inexplicably standing by as the visitors passed the ball as if Manchester City’s ‘B’ team. The visitors were also feistier in their tackles, so there was no obvious half-time remedy for Ancelotti beyond asking his players if they really want European football next season.

He took action by replacing defender Holgate with midfielder Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson’s first contribution was to pass directly to John Flack, a worrying sign the mediocrity was contagious.

Ancelotti’s switch to four at the back made Everton more balanced. The urgency was still woefully lacking, Sheffield United’s defence so secure they could have been forgiven for feeling they had sunk a division three games early.

A second for Sheffield United was as plausible as an equaliser, although it was pure application that got them over the line, the tireless David McGoldrick typifying the effort Everton so lacked as the Heckingbottom took a notable scalp into his job interview.