Super Eagles forward, Alex Iwobi, has been praised for his brilliant performance as Everton forced Liverpool to a goalless draw in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
Although Frank Lampard’s men endured a slow start to the 2022/23 season, their performance against last season’s Premier League runner-up at Goodison Park showed signs of improvement.
Aside from Iwobi, Lampard’s side was saved from a defeat by keeper, Jordan Pickford and the woodwork, after Davies hit the post for Everton, before Nunez and Diaz were denied by the goalframe later in the first half.
Everton thought they’d gone ahead on 69 minutes after Coady turned the ball home from close range, but VAR ruled it out as the defender had narrowly strayed into an offside position.
The chances then kept on coming for both sides, with Pickford pulling off great saves to deny Firmino on three occasions, who did well after coming off the bench.
Meanwhile, Maupay and McNeil had good chances at the other end, but Alisson was alert to prevent an Everton goal. Salah should have won it in stoppage time, but Pickford was there once again to tip it onto the post and it finished 0-0.
Rallying the Everton winger with praises, Ex- Nigerian professional football and Olympic Gold Medalist, Sunday Oliseh said his “compatriot, Vision, Physical, clairvoyance, pace, aggressive and belief in his capabilities” mad him the spotlight of the match.
Oliseh on his verified Twitter handle added that “This is great for Naija and Everton.”
Also praising Iwobi, a Twitter user, @Esvzeus said “I like this. We see how them Gary Neuville and the likes of Owen and other English ex-players applaud their players (even when they give average performances) but most of our legends don’t do that for our players here in Africa. We have to be selling ourselves out there.”
James Benge, a correspondent for American outlet, CBS Sports, added, “Alex Iwobi often looked really promising as a secondary playmaker/facilitator at Arsenal, upping the pace of attacks and weaving things together. Great to see him unlocking those skills in an Everton shirt.”
Another tweep, @KahunaKome added, “I can’t believe it took prem managers this long to realise Iwobi is a midfielder. They saw he was black in Arsenal academy & said yhh you’re a winger.”
@90sSophie said, “Pickford is a crazy and wild goalkeeper. I saw a different level of Everton, especially from Gray, Gordon and Iwobi. Really entertaining.”
Another user, @DaystarSnr tweeted, “Iwobi’s vision can make a man go blind, man’s living his dream and he doesn’t look like he wants to stop.”
Iwobi has another opportunity to show fans more of the stuff he’s made of in the next match week when Lampard’s men face his former side, Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
