Everton’s recent 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park highlighted why they are likely to fall short of a European spot. The match, which David Moyes’ side desperately needed to win to keep their ambitions alive, ended in frustration.
Late in the game, television cameras captured a dejected Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sitting on the away bench, flanked by teammate Beto. The midfielder was berating himself after failing to convert a key chance when Everton led 2-1. Instead of shooting when bearing down on goal, he opted to pass, allowing Palace to clear. It was a similar miss to one against Brentford recently, but this time on his stronger left foot.
“I told him: ‘Why are you upset? Because you can miss. You can miss a pass. You can miss a run. You can lose a duel,'” Beto told reporters after the game. “This is why I try to get through to all my teammates because this is football. No one will be perfect.”
Beto, who scored his fifth goal in as many games at Palace, added: “For a player who has this talent, not to overthink too much when he misses or does something bad. This is my job—put everything on my back. I’m OK with it.”
But such moments are costing Everton. They were 3-1 ahead after 81 minutes against Manchester City earlier in the week, only to concede two late goals. At Selhurst Park, they were twice pegged back after taking the lead. Moyes admitted in his post-match press conference that Europe “had not gone yet but was just drifting a wee bit away.”
There is a temptation to wonder where Everton would be if they had seen out some of these games. They have not been good enough when it matters at both ends of the pitch. Moyes pointed to missed opportunities from Dewsbury-Hall and forward Iliman Ndiaye. “It could have been 3-3 or 4-4,” he said. “Kiernan and Ili have just been off the boil a bit as far as finishing is concerned. We needed their craft.”
Everton have become over-reliant on Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye to create and score, but their recent issues stem from a collective failure to do the basics defensively and manage games. They have conceded at least twice in six of their last seven matches, and 11 in their last five. The injured Jarrad Branthwaite, out for the season with a hamstring injury, is sorely missed in central defense. Since he limped off late in the Merseyside derby, Everton have shipped eight goals in just over three matches.
Concerningly, Everton are leaking goals in a variety of ways. Michael Keane, Branthwaite’s replacement, and James Tarkowski are susceptible to pace and tend to drop deep to compensate. Their styles are too similar for the fast pace of Premier League football. When Branthwaite is out, gaps between midfield and defense grow. Ismaila Sarr, scorer of Palace’s first goal, caused trouble by drifting inside from the right and exploiting Everton’s man-to-man marking. With James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam occupied, it was unclear who was meant to pick up Sarr. Leading up to the goal, Everton should have dealt better.
