Everton could only draw 2-2 against Crystal Palace, which has led to a lot of talk about the Toffees season under David Moyes.
Everton simply had to win against Palace, after dropping points against Manchester City on Monday,
Which Everton player frustrated you the most against Crystal Palace? 😬
Going into Sunday’s game, Everton were unbeaten in their previous 10 meetings with Palace, who had been in action on Thursday night.
But the golden opportunity was wasted.
Everton squandered several good chances to create daylight in the game, and in the end the spoils were shared.
Everton now sit 10th in the table, but the likelihood is that European football will now not be possible.
Everton have completely bottled European football
Realistically, Everton now need to win both their remaining games against Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur, and hope that the likes of Brentford and Chelsea drop points.
Bournemouth and Brighton cannot be caught.
Without doubt, Everton have really bottled the chance to get European football at the first time of asking under The Friedkin Group.
After that win over Chelsea just before the international break, the Toffees were in such a promising position.
But since coming back from that break, they have not won a single game in the Premier League, going five winless.
And we’ve all seen what’s happened in recent games.
Everton have been in terrific positions, but poor defending and a lack of ruthlessness up top has proven costly.
Against City and Palace, Everton had glorious chances to establish bigger leads, but could not take their opportunities. Four points were dropped from these games, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye two big guilty parties.
Another point was dropped as Virgil van Dijk headed in a late winner in the Merseyside Derby.
And against West Ham United a couple of weeks ago, Callum Wilson’s late winner meant another point lost.
That’s six points right there, which obviously would have had Everton right in the mix.
It’s not as though Everton came up short in terms of quality against these sides. It’s been both a mentality issue, and possibly a tactical one too, with game management very questionable.
They were well positioned to get results and did not do so.
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David Moyes has done a solid job, but golden opportunity missed
It is important to remember and acknowledge that David Moyes has done a fine job at Everton.
Context is required, and he’s come in and stabilised things for Everton, keeping the club well away from the relegation zone. That would have been the biggest thing before a ball was kicked this term.
But it is also true that Moyes has caused Everton to miss out on Europe.
No win in any of Everton’s last five games… what would you say to David Moyes? 🫣
His reluctance to trust in younger players who could bring more energy to a team that has looked tired at times has been a frustration.
He’s also made late substitutions in games, and sometimes not made changes that could relieve pressure on his side. Charly Alcaraz coming on so late against Palace for Dewsbury-Hall was a baffling one.
There’s been talk of a new contract for Moyes. But it’ll just be interesting to see if these talks are just delayed slightly to see how Everton finish the season.
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