Everton fell to a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea at the weekend, and there was frustration about the goal the Toffees conceded.
It was another unhappy trip to Stamford Bridge for David Moyes, who has not won at Chelsea’s home now in 20 attempts as a manager.
It was Nicolas Jackson who scored the game’s only goal, striking midway through the first-half.
Jackson finished into the bottom corner, after Beto had his pocket picked in a midfield area.
Moyes suggested after the game that Beto should have retained the ball better.
But some – including Tim Sherwood – have pointed to the ball from Jordan Pickford not being good enough.
And for pundit Glenn Hoddle, there was simply too much space around Jackson once the ball had been turned over.
Glenn Hoddle questions Everton defending on Chelsea goal and talks up James Tarkowski
Last week, Everton lost James Tarkowski to a hamstring injury.
Everton had been holding Manchester City to a draw at Goodison Park, but then succumbed to a 2-0 loss after the captain had gone off.
Tarkowski is now out for the rest of the season with his injury.
Although that is a blow, it does give Moyes a chance to see Jarrad Branthwaite and Jake O’Brien in action together in central defence.
The pair failed to keep a clean sheet though against Chelsea, and Hoddle reckons the absence of Tarkowski proved costly.
He said on Premier League Productions: “Possibly not. He’s got the experience. I mean, they had time. By the time Beto had lost the ball and they pinch it – they’ve got time the two centre-backs, to come in and defend properly.
“Teams don’t do that anymore. It’s all about, how we’re going to play out. Let’s stretch the pitch. Let’s split our centre-backs. Once that ball goes in there, and it’s a 50-50 ball, it’s a tough ball for him from Pickford. As a defender, and the experience of Tarkowski would have said ‘Right, I’m going in here’.
“They had time to get in behind Jackson. And that’s where the art of defending is going out of the game.”
Tarkowski bound to be missed by Everton
It was always going to be fascinating to see how Branthwaite and O’Brien would fare as a partnership for the first time.
The duo had some difficult moments against the Blues, but that was inevitable.
| James Tarkowski for Everton in 2024/25 |
| Appearances – 34 |
| Minutes played – 3014 |
| Clean sheets – 10 |
| Yellow/red cards – 6/0 |
Chelsea have some dangerous players, and Branthwaite and O’Brien have never played as a pairing in the Premier League before.
Tarkowski has probably not had his best season for Everton. But he remains a hugely important part of that backline and as Hoddle says, he has big experiences.
Had Tarkowski played, that gap may not have been so wide and there may have been a chance of blocking Jackson’s shot.
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