Sean Dyche told he’s got a ‘weak link’ at Everton, other teams are now targeting him in games

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Everton have not exactly enjoyed the best of starts to the 2024/25 campaign with their latest defeat coming against Southampton.

Sean Dyche’s side have now lost five of their 10 Premier League games this season and sit just four points ahead of the drop zone.

The Everton boss has now raised his own frustrations with Dyche blaming VAR for not sending of Southampton’s Jan Bednarek.

However, there have been a few questions to emerge from the game on the weekend with Dyche criticised for not starting Jarrad Branthwaite on the weekend.

But it seems as if there is one player who the opposition are becoming aware of now at Everton as a potential weak link.

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Vitaliy Mykolenko slammed as Everton’s weak link

Jamie Carragher has already criticised Ashley Young for his role in Southampton’s goal on the weekend which sealed Everton’s defeat.

However, speaking to Liverpool Echo, Michael Ball has raised his concern surrounding the opposition frequently targeting Vitaliy Mykolenko at left-back.

“Vitaliy Mykolenko has had a slow start to the season since he came back,” he said.

“He had a poor first half against Fulham and because there’s no pace in behind, he’s being targeted as a weak link by the opposition because they know if they get beyond the full-back, they’re free.

“Last season, if Mykolenko did get beaten then he was covered by Jarrad, who would be two or three yards further over on that side to make it difficult for the opposition.”

The £17m Mykolenko was linked with an Everton exit over the summer but Dyche was keen to keep him around on Merseyside.

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Vitaliy Mykolenko stats vs Southampton

Everton ended the 2023/24 campaign with the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League with 51 goals conceded.

And during last season, Mykolenko played 28 times in the Premier League so he did play a significant role in one of the best defences around.

• 90 minutes played
• 3 clearances
• 3 tackles
• 0x dribbled past
• 4/4 ground duels won
• 1 blocked shot

Although Ball was concerned about Mykolenko going one on one with the opposition’s attacking players, it would seen the defender faired well on Saturday.

Perhaps the bigger issue is at centre-back with Everton having the likes of Branthwaite and Jake O’Brien sat on the bench.

Everton fans are desperate to see O’Brien in action but it seems as if Dyche is stuck with the back four of Young, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Mykolenko.