Everton will travel to Bournemouth on Tuesday, aiming to banish the ghosts of their poor performance against Newcastle United on Saturday evening.
Everton fell 4-1 to Newcastle in the Premier League at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, trailing 3-0 at half-time – which led to boos from the crowd in what was their second loss at the new ground since their move over the summer.
Whilst the defensive failures were clearly evident against the Magpies, David Moyes’ men also failed to create much in an attacking sense, and that contributed to Everton’s heaviest league defeat in 15 years under the Scottish gaffer.
However, despite their attacking shortcomings, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola stopped to praise the Toffees for their array of quality in the final third ahead of Tuesday’s clash on the south coast.
Andoni Iraola believes Everton have a lot of attacking quality
Speaking ahead of the 14th game of the Premier League season, Iraola praised Everton in abundance ahead of the clash – highlighting the ‘creative quality’ that the Toffees have in their ranks, labelling the game a ‘big test’ for the Cherries.
The Spanish gaffer said: “I know that it’s going to be very difficult, this game.
“Everton is a team that is, for me, playing very well. They’re now with [Jack] Grealish, with [Iliman] Ndiaye, with [Kiernan] Dewsbury-Hall. They are players that have quality there, and they can create from situations that you think you have under control and make things happen.
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“And for me, it’s going to be a big test for us. I think we need a good result, I would say even more than a good game.
“A good result, and we will have to be very good, because I know they are good.”
Everton do boast the likes of Jack Grealish, Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in their ranks, a midfield trio that many teams in the league would love to have. Ndiaye in particular is having the best season of his career, being linked with other English clubs.
But that hasn’t quite shown in the Premier League this season and David Moyes must get more out of them if Everton are to fly up the top-flight table.
Everton still remain one of the lowest scoring teams in the Premier League
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s strike against Newcastle means Everton are now on 14 Premier League goals for the season.
But, in just 13 games, it’s not enough for the club to be classed as one of the best in the business.
STAT: Thierno Barry had the lowest amount of touches (26) of any player who started in Everton’s 4-1 loss to Newcastle. Even Jordan Pickford (36) and Aaron Ramsdale (37) had more.
Only bottom side Wolves, newly-promoted Leeds United and recently-appointed gaffer Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest rank below them for goals scored in the league table this season, with Wolves having scored just seven and the remaining duo on 13 for the campaign.
It means Everton are below beleaguered Burnley, West Ham and Fulham in terms of firepower. With Thierno Barry and Beto failing to produce much in terms of goals, Iraola’s words may come as a surprise – especially given his Bournemouth side have only been outscored by Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City so far this season.
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