Everton 0-2 Fulham
by James Nalton
at Goodison Park

JOSH MAJA had a Fulham full debut to remember, scoring two goals as his side outclassed Everton on Sunday night

The 22-year-old arrived on loan from Bordeaux on transfer deadline day earlier this month as Fulham hoped to add some finishing power to their attack.

With one of the worst goal-scoring records in the league, only slightly better than those of Burnley and Sheffield United, Scott Parker’s side needed someone to make the most of their often impressive build-up play.

Fulham are 12th in the league for shot-creating-actions, as defined by the statistics website FBref, but 17th in the league for goals scored.

Maja’s most prolific spell of goalscoring form came with Sunderland in League One back in the 2018-19 season when he scored 15 goals in 24 games. It was obvious he could play at a much higher level and, though he wasn’t prolific in Bordeaux, the talent was obviously still there.

Fulham and Parker hope Maja’s League One form can translate to the Premier League, and there were encouraging signs against Everton.

It wasn’t so much his finishing but his positioning that led to his goals. He was able to get into areas which allowed him to capitalise on some of the excellent build-up play from Bobby Decordova-Reid, Ola Aina and former Everton winger Ademola Lookman.

Like Aina, Maja was born in London but has represented Nigeria at international level, and Lookman could choose a similar path even though he has represented England at youth level so far.

Maja’s first goal came from a neat one-two involving Aina and Lookman, with the former putting a dangerous ball into the box for the striker who had sneaked in behind Mason Holgate.

The second arrived on a plate after Harrison Reed’s shot rebounded off the post, but Maja had put himself in the right place to capitalise and secure a valuable three points.

“He was fantastic tonight, scoring two goals,” Parker said of Maja’s performance.

“The first move was brilliant. A nice bit of movement in and around the box and he’s there to tap one in.

“The second goal was a real striker’s instinct goal — off the post and he’s there.”

By contrast, Everton were sluggish throughout, but Fulham made them look so. Parker’s side go into their game against Burnley tomorrow on a high, and the manager must be tempted to hand Maja his second start.