Everton 1-0 Ipswich Town: Match Report and Player Ratings

Everton hang on to keep their unbeaten streak going despite VAR trying its very best to ruin the afternoon.

What a joke.

Instead of simply celebrating Everton’s fourth victory in all competitions this season and nine points from their opening five Premier League games, somehow we are once again talking about VAR.

Thankfully, it didn’t affect the outcome, but it made the closing stages far more squeaky-bum time than they ever needed to be.

A rather fortuitous Thierno Barry goal ultimately separated the sides, although the Frenchman should have had a much better second if not for one of the most baffling VAR interventions you are likely to see.

Despite enjoying plenty of possession, Ipswich failed to break down another resolute Everton defence and made their task harder when Abdul Fatawu was sent off for a second yellow card for simulation.

It certainly wasn’t pretty, but Everton remain unbeaten in the Premier League and head into the international break fifth in the table.

Pre-Match

Everton arrived in good spirits after securing their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 victory over Wolves in midweek, while Ipswich were looking to build on an impressive 3-2 win away at Crystal Palace.

David Moyes reverted to a more familiar XI after making changes for the cup, with Harrison Armstrong returning to midfield and James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite reunited at centre-back. Jack Grealish replaced Tyrique George in Everton’s only change from the league draw at Tottenham.

Ipswich boss Gary O’Neil made two changes from the victory at Selhurst Park, with Christian Walton replacing Kjell Scherpen in goal and Abdoul Ouattara handed his first Premier League start.

Barry Bundles It In

Once again, Everton started rather sluggishly, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall giving possession away cheaply before Jordan Pickford was called into action. Brennan Johnson then squandered a glorious opportunity at the other end after Barry found him inside the area.

The deciding moment came shortly afterwards as Tarkowski tried his luck from around 30 yards, only for his effort to cannon off Barry, wrong-foot Walton and find the bottom corner.

Tarky 🤜🤛 Thierno

Combining for today's winner! 💙 pic.twitter.com/Ndz3OMnzmX

— Everton (@Everton) September 19, 2026

Whether Barry knew exactly what he was doing is up for debate, but they all count. It was his fifth goal in all competitions this season and continued an encouraging start to the campaign.

Barry almost doubled his tally when he found himself completely unmarked from Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ cross, only to send his header narrowly wide.

Ipswich enjoyed the majority of possession and controlled large periods of the half as Everton struggled to keep the ball, but the visitors never truly made Pickford sweat. Fatawu tested the England number one from distance, while Leif Davis somehow missed from a few yards before the offside flag spared his blushes.

Everton Got VAR-ed, Again

Ipswich once again came out sharply after the restart, with Jack Clarke slipping Julio Enciso through before Pickford reacted quickly to deny him at his near post.

Everton struggled to get a grip on the opening stages of the half. Johnson wasted another excellent opportunity by firing horribly wide, while Armstrong also tried his luck from distance, although shooting practice may need to be added to his schedule at Finch Farm over the international break.

Then came the moment of the match, and not for the right reasons.

Dewsbury-Hall’s delivery was met brilliantly by Barry in the 58th minute, with the striker directing his header across Walton and into the far corner.

2-0…until it wasn’t. After a VAR check, referee Stuart Attwell was sent to the monitor and ruled that Johnson, standing in an offside position, had interfered with Walton’s line of sight.

#EVEIPS – 58’ VAR OVERTURN

VAR checked the referee’s call of goal to Everton – and determined that Johnson was interfering with an opponent while in an offside position and recommended an on-field review.

REF: “Everton No.22 is in an offside position. He impacts the…

— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) September 19, 2026

Now, maybe I’m looking at this through the bluest-tinted glasses imaginable, but what exactly was Walton supposed to do about that header? Unless he suddenly developed six-foot-long arms, he wasn’t saving it whether Johnson was standing there or not.

It was an outstanding finish from Barry, but one that disappeared from the record books because of another VAR decision that leaves you questioning what exactly the technology is improving. Factoring in the controversial Manchester derby winner last weekend, that is now two decisions in two weeks that VAR has got horrendously wrong.

🤔 𝗗𝗘𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗘: Does this goal from Thierno Barry deserve to be disallowed for offside?

No goalkeeper in the world is saving that, even if Brennan Johnson is stood there. pic.twitter.com/iuPQsOplKg

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) September 19, 2026

Thankfully, Ipswich made their own afternoon considerably harder minutes later. Fatawu, already booked in the first half, threw himself to the ground as he went past James Garner and was shown a second yellow for simulation.

Everton then had more than enough opportunities to kill the game off. Substitute Tyler Dibling immediately forced Walton into an excellent save before putting a wonderful cross onto Dewsbury-Hall’s head, only for the midfielder to somehow miss from close range.

Armstrong later ignored the opportunity to play Dewsbury-Hall through and instead fired hopelessly wide himself. It summed up Everton’s biggest problem all afternoon.

Twenty-one shots. Two on target. One goal, and even that needed a massive deflection. Against better opposition, that sort of wastefulness will punish you.

Instead of enjoying a comfortable finish against 10 men, Everton allowed Ipswich one final opportunity, with substitute Zian Flemming firing over from close range deep into stoppage time.

But once again, Everton’s defence stood firm.

Three consecutive clean sheets, five Premier League games unbeaten and seven without defeat in all competitions. There is something to be said for winning ugly, and if Moyes can combine this defensive resilience with more ruthlessness at the other end, there is plenty to be encouraged about.

Man of the Match: James Tarkowski

An assist alongside another excellent defensive display. Captain Tarks showed once again how important he is to making this back four stick together and tick. Ipswich enjoyed plenty of possession, but Tarkowski dealt with almost everything thrown into Everton’s box.

A shout to Branthwaite as well, who was excellent alongside him, but he didn’t have a lucky 30-yard assist now, did he?

Bad Day at the Office: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

This international break couldn’t have come quickly enough for KDH. Wasteful from the beginning, both in possession and in front of goal, Dewsbury-Hall looked a shell of the player we know he can be. His sloppy pass almost gifted Ipswich an early opportunity before he somehow failed to convert Dibling’s brilliant cross from close range.

Been a big fan of KDH and his contributions since joining Everton, but he’s been just plain bad today and pretty poor to start the season overall. He won’t get dropped under any non-injury based circumstance, so we really need him to turn it around. #EFC

— Rob Vera (@TheRobVera) September 19, 2026

He has been below his best in several matches recently, but this performance takes the cake. Hopefully the international break gives him the reset he desperately needs.

Player Ratings

Jordan Pickford: 8

Rock-solid once again. Made several important saves, particularly from Enciso immediately after the restart, and thoroughly deserved another clean sheet.

🛑Another clean sheet for our number 1 today. That takes him to 5 clean sheets in 7 games this season 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/wCaK246I4K

— 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 (@EvertonNewsFeed) September 19, 2026

Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 7

Another decent showing at both ends of the pitch. Put a lovely cross onto Barry’s head in the first half and remained assured defensively.

James Tarkowski: 8

My Man of the Match. His ambitious effort created the winner and he marshalled another excellent defensive display.

Jarrad Branthwaite: 8

Calm, composed and seemingly always in the right place. He and Tarkowski are beginning to look like that formidable partnership of old again.

Vitalii Mykolenko: 7

Fatawu caused problems at times, but Mykolenko stuck to his task well despite an early booking and contributed to another clean sheet.

James Garner: 7

Another tidy performance in midfield. Did plenty of the less glamorous work and helped Everton regain control after Ipswich went down to 10.

Harrison Armstrong: 6

Plenty of energy, but his decision-making let him down. Should have played Dewsbury-Hall through late on rather than firing hopelessly wide. I get he wants his goal, but c’mon.

Brennan Johnson: 6

Should have scored and wasted another good opportunity after the break. Dibling’s immediate impact after replacing him did Johnson no favours.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 4

A really poor afternoon. Wasteful in possession and somehow missed from close range, although he did at least provide the delivery for Barry’s disallowed goal.

Jack Grealish: 7

Showed flashes of the quality Everton have missed. Carried the ball well and gave the Blues a useful outlet on the left.

Thierno Barry: 7

One fortunate goal and another that absolutely should have counted. His first-half miss prevents the rating going higher, but five goals in all competitions represents an encouraging start.

Substitutes

Tyler Dibling: 7

Made an immediate difference, forcing Walton into a good save before putting an inch-perfect cross onto Dewsbury-Hall’s head. Giving Moyes plenty to think about.

Tyrique George: 6

Provided fresh legs as Everton looked to see the game out.

Hayden Hackney, Jake O’Brien: N/A

What’s Next?

Everton enter the three-week international break unbeaten in the Premier League and fifth in the table after taking nine points from their opening five matches.

When the league returns, Moyes’ side travel to high-flying Hull City, whose unbeaten start came to an end with a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United today. Ipswich, meanwhile, host struggling Fulham at Portman Road.

There is plenty for Everton to work on. Twenty-one attempts producing only two shots on target simply isn’t good enough, and their wastefulness almost allowed a game that should have been dead and buried to slip away.

But perhaps that is a complaint for another day. Seven games unbeaten. Three consecutive clean sheets. Fifth in the Premier League. And, despite VAR’s best efforts, another three points.