Everton’s Europa League bid suffered another blow with a 2-1 defeat to Lyon.
After a bright start, the Blues found themselves down inside the first five minutes when Mason Holgate’s rash challenge brought down Marcal in the penalty area.
Nabil Fekir opened the scoring for the visitors from the spot, which held out until midway through the second half before Ashley Williams drew his side level.
Everton could have then taken the lead when Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free kick was headed onto the post and scrambled off the line by the Ligue 1 outfit.
Instead, it would be Lyon who would take the lead and all three points as Bertrand Traore poked home at the near post to secure victory for Lyon.
Here were the key talking points from Goodison:
Koeman on the brink
Ronald Koeman had joked earlier this week that he might be in a crisis.
The problem is, this is no laughing matter – it is now a reality at Goodison Park.
His side have now managed just three wins in all competitions this season, sit just outside of the Premier League’s relegation zone and are effectively out of Europe.
That is nowhere near good enough for a side that has spent as much money as the Blues did over the summer, regardless of the failure to get a striker.
A home win over Arsenal saved Koeman’s job last season amid a miserable run of form and the Dutchman will be praying that history repeats itself on Sunday.
Team creating their own problems
Not all of Everton’s problems can be laid solely at the door of their manager.
Michael Keane insisted they had to stop conceding the first goal if they were to turn things around. Unfortunately, it seems none of his teammates were listening.
In 15 competitive games this season, Everton have conceded the first goal in ten of them. They have scored first in the remainder to see them picking up points.
That suggests the answer to their problems this season is a simple one.
Until that happens, though, games will continue to be the uphill task that they have become, both home and abroad, regardless of who they’re playing.
Blues prove they have some fight
Amid the dreary performances this season Evertonians, including Goodison legend Peter Reid, have questioned whether Koeman’s side possess any fight.
It may have been another defeat here but they at least showed against Lyon that they do indeed have that spirit in them.
Following a mass brawl sparked by Ashley Williams’ challenge on Anthony Lopes, the home appeared the most passionate they have ever been.
It was something the home crowd responded to, with Everton fans turning the famous old stadium into a bear pit to try and rouse their team further.
Ultimately it had little effect but the Gwladys Street and beyond can at least take comfort from seeing the kind of fight they have long been demanding.
Wingers, not no.10s, offer hope
If Koeman does somehow manage to turn things around, sticking with a formation that employs wingers will be the best way to go.
His frustrating insistence on using two number 10’s has failed spectacularly this season and switching that up was the overriding positive against Lyon.
Nikola Vlasic and Kevin Mirallas were easily Everton’s best players in the first half, creating their side’s best chances.
That was a theme that continued when Ademola Lookman was introduced after the interval.
It could be a system that reaps the rewards Koeman desperately needs at the weekend against an in-form Arsenal and their wing-back approach.