Goodison spark missing for Moyes as Watkins wins it
The Guardian|January 16, 2025
The second coming of David Moyes confirmed the new Everton manager is no miracle worker. But how they could do with one. Everton drew a blank for the ninth time in 11 Premier League games as Aston Villa, too savvy and assured for a relegation-threatened opponent, ensured there would be no new managerial bounce at Goodison Park.
Andy Hunter
Goodison spark missing for Moyes as Watkins wins it

Ollie Watkins struck the only goal of a tight contest to give Unai Emery's side a merited win and condemn Everton to a third league defeat in succession. Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a glorious chance to level in the 93rd minute but blazed over from Jesper Lindstrøm's cross. Until or unless Moyes can eke improvement from Calvert-Lewin and the forwards he has inherited, the immediate goal of Premier League survival will remain fraught with difficulty. Villa, from Premier League promotion to Champions League qualification inside six seasons, continue to look in the opposite direction.

Moyes was out on the pitch long before kick-off, just as he was prior to his first game as Everton manager on 16 March 2002. Unlike the 2-1 win against Fulham that day, when the then youngest manager in the Premier League surprised the Goodison crowd by taking the warmup, the now oldest manager in the Premier League was content to stand in the centre circle and chat to an old familiar face from the groundstaff. The 61-year-old was so enthused to be back that he started waving to the home crowd before the stadium announcer had finished reading out the teams and moved on to introducing the club's latest manager. Moyes received a rousing reception when his name was finally announced.

This story is from the January 16, 2025 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 16, 2025 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE GUARDIANView All
Musk's beliefs What is behind determination to change face of government?
The Guardian

Musk's beliefs What is behind determination to change face of government?

Elon Musk is not a people person, as millions around the world will be able to attest after the planet's richest man cut off food supplies, healthcare and probably even life itself to some of the most vulnerable without so much as a fore or after thought.

time-read
6 mins  |
February 08, 2025
She is everything Driven, sober and honest, Doechii is US rap's new hero
The Guardian

She is everything Driven, sober and honest, Doechii is US rap's new hero

Sunday's Grammy awards were a celebration of widely known blue-chip talent: Taylor Swift was there, handing an award to Beyoncé.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 08, 2025
The Guardian

Trump's aid cuts could be big mistake - Lammy

Donald Trump's plans to make dramatic cuts to the United States' international aid budget could be a \"big strategic mistake\" that allows China to step in and further its global influence, the UK foreign secretary has said.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 08, 2025
'Backsliding': most countries to miss vital climate deadline as Cop30 looms
The Guardian

'Backsliding': most countries to miss vital climate deadline as Cop30 looms

The vast majority of the world's governments are set to miss a looming deadline to file vital new climate plans that will determine whether the world has a chance of avoiding the worst ravages of climate breakdown.

time-read
6 mins  |
February 08, 2025
'Judge me on the deals' Foreign secretary treads delicate path in global landscape of political minefields
The Guardian

'Judge me on the deals' Foreign secretary treads delicate path in global landscape of political minefields

Foreign secretary treads delicate path in global landscape of political minefields

time-read
4 mins  |
February 08, 2025
We have to reset' UK's TV industry struggling in big-budget streaming era
The Guardian

We have to reset' UK's TV industry struggling in big-budget streaming era

From the star of the Golden Globe-winning Wolf Hall taking a big pay cut, to the BBC shelving premium TV projects because of a lack of funds, UK broadcasters are increasingly being priced out of the Netflix-fuelled golden age of big-budget drama.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 08, 2025
Hundreds of Rwandan troops reported killed in DRC despite official denials
The Guardian

Hundreds of Rwandan troops reported killed in DRC despite official denials

Hundreds of Rwandan troops have been killed during covert operations in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), contradicting claims from Kigali that its soldiers are not involved in the conflict there.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 08, 2025
'No scientific justification' to Letby insulin poisoning claim, experts say
The Guardian

'No scientific justification' to Letby insulin poisoning claim, experts say

The claim that Lucy Letby definitely poisoned babies with insulin has \"no scientific justification whatsoever\", and there is a \"very strong level of reasonable doubt\" about the convictions, according to the authors of a 100-page study on the case.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 08, 2025
Lost cities of the Amazon Ancient garden metropolises uncovered by 3D mapping
The Guardian

Lost cities of the Amazon Ancient garden metropolises uncovered by 3D mapping

For decades, archaeologists have believed that human occupation of the Amazon basin was far older, vaster and more urbanised than the textbooks suggested.

time-read
5 mins  |
February 08, 2025
Deals for two How couples can save at any stage of life
The Guardian

Deals for two How couples can save at any stage of life

There are huge savings to be made as a pair, from meals to outings to pensions, as Mabel Banfield-Nwachi and Rupert Jones report

time-read
7 mins  |
February 08, 2025