On paper, a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, and two goals from Erling Haaland, is not out of the norm.
Everton fans will be disappointed with Beto’s finishing and some failed chances, but the scoreline properly reflected how the match played out on the pitch. Manchester City were the better team.
What needs to be addressed is how Everton were exposed defensively. It’s never easy playing a team with as much attacking talent as Manchester City, but their narrow setup didn’t do them any favours.
1. Is Seamus Coleman needed in rotation this season?
At 37 years old, and with just 2 minutes of Premier League minutes under his belt, it’s natural to think Seamus Coleman will be a bit-part player this season. However, his exploits for the Republic of Ireland paint a very different picture.
Coleman started Ireland’s last two international games in October and was arguably the best player on the pitch in the second. Albeit against a 10-man Armenia, his experience and defensive leadership stood out to those watching. He also played 151 minutes across both games.
He’s not in his prime, but Jake O’Brien has struggled at times against teams with pacy wingers. West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville comes to mind. Coleman could be a shrewd change for teams that attack O’Brien’s wing as regularly as Manchester City did.
2. Were Everton punished for being too pedestrian?
It’s one thing ingrained in the fabric of the club. Players can win over the dressing room and the fans with big tackles and gutsy defending. The blueprint is often shown by James Tarkowski, but the Manchester City game left little to be desired.
Partly, this was down to how David Moyes set up his team. The back four were squeezed into the box when Manchester City attacked, and the midfield five took zonal positions in a mid-block. It was effective for 50 minutes of the game, until Erling Haaland broke the deadlock.
Everton allowed Manchester City to play their game from then on. They were guilty of under-committing, as shown in the stats, with just 42% of ground duels won. Could they have benefited from man-marking or trying to stop the opposition attack before it got started? Or was it the right move to play conservatively?
3. Can Everton trust Carlos Alcaraz on the wing?
The Argentinian attacker has shown some spirited performances off the bench in recent Premier League games. Moyes’ decision to opt with Alcaraz instead of a natural winger on Saturday clearly showed his confidence in him, but it may have backfired.
His counterpart on the other wing, Iliman Ndiaye, was proof of how wingers operate on both ends of the pitch. Ndiaye came out with 17 defensive contributions, the most of any player at the Etihad. He made some important interceptions and worked tirelessly. Alcaraz ranked 22nd in the same stat.
In his defence, Moyes was in a difficult position. Is Manchester City the game to trust 19-year-old Tyler Dibling to start? Did Dwight McNeil have enough match fitness to play a bigger part? Either way, it’s clear Alcaraz was limited defensively and will likely continue to play down the middle.