Everton scored a last-gasp equaliser against Liverpool in Wednesday night’s thrilling Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park – but there was one negative of the evening for David Moyes.
Everton drew 2-2 with the Reds, with James Tarkowski popping up right the death to score in front of the Gwladys Street End, prompting scenes of bedlam.
Abdoulaye Doucoure was sent off after the full-time whistle for goading the Liverpool fans, with Curtis Jones receiving his marching orders too. Arne Slot and his assistant manager Spike Hulshoff were also sent off.
Moyes expressed his disappointment in Doucoure after the game, because Everton can ill afford to be losing players right now.
Everton lost another player last night in Iliman Ndiaye, who was distraught as he left the field of play with a knee injury in the first-half.
Ndiaye has been for a scan on his knee today, and – with images circulating on social media of the star wearing a knee brace – there is a possibility he could be out for a while.
Here are three players David Moyes may be considering to replace him.
Carlos Alcaraz
Everton’s new signing Carlos Alcaraz is a predominately central player.
He tends to operate as an eight or a 10, but managers have also sporadically used the Argentine as wide midfielder previously.
Ultimately, Everton now don’t have that many options.
But Alcaraz is someone who can carry the ball and has decent mobility, so Moyes may consider turning to his new signing to replace Ndiaye on the left side.
Jesper Lindstrom
Jesper Lindstrom has mainly found himself playing on the right side for Everton this season and recently, he’s operating as a king of wing-back.
But the Denmark international could now be set for a position change given the setback for Ndiaye.
Lindstrom has operated as a left winger 22 times at club level so far, playing that position the most for Brondby.
He also spent some time on the left for Napoli.
Lindstrom has yet to open his account for Everton, but operating from the left is something that may encourage him to come inside and shoot more often with his right foot.
Jack Harrison
Perhaps the most maligned Everton player this season, Jack Harrison could now come back into the starting XI to replace Ndiaye.
Harrison’s second loan spell at Goodison Park has not gone to plan and like Lindstrom, he has yet to score this season.
But Harrison was the man to actually replace Ndiaye when he hobbled off against Liverpool, which may or may not suggest he could be the man Moyes turns to.
Against Liverpool, Jarrad Branthwaite was seen berating Harrison as the winger struggled to deal with the intensity of the game. But he did improve in the second-half, and had a small hand in the Tarkowski winner.
Harrison has mainly operated from the right side this season, a role that allows him to cut inside.
But a stint on the left could now beckon for the former Manchester City man and if he goes get a show of faith, he has to be much better than he has been.
Some Everton fans want Carlos Alcaraz to replace Ndiaye
On social media, there have been some early shouts for Alcaraz to replace Ndiaye.
While it’s accepted he’s not a wide player by trade like Harrison and Lindstrom, some Evertonians reckon he’s the man Moyes should be turning to after his two positive cameos so far.
It is worth pointing out that, with Doucoure suspended for the next game against Crystal Palace, Alcaraz will likely be deployed centrally as a number 10.
But after that, he may well be used out wide if Harrison or Lindstrom don’t cut it.
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