Everton’s strikers have not been in form this season, with Beto and Barry having just one goal between them after seven Premier League games.
Thierno Barry was signed in the summer from Villarreal, but he has yet to adapt to the intensity of the league. Meanwhile, Beto, who started life well under David Moyes, has yet to return to those heights.
When Moyes returned to Everton, the Portuguese forward looked like a new player. During February of last season, Beto scored five goals across six games in the month.
Now, Everton fans would not think twice about selling Beto.
The situation has left the manager in a tough place. None of his frontmen are firing, and they are the only natural options to lead the line.
However, he has been given an interesting suggestion for upcoming matches should the issue persist.
Everton v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz could be used as a false nine for Everton under David Moyes
Carlos Alcaraz has received praise over the last few weeks for his performances for the Toffees.
Alan Myers said the player ‘changed the game’ against Crystal Palace, as Everton ended the Eagles’ 19-game unbeaten run.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
Additionally, fans were left in awe of the Argentine’s performance, and his previous history could offer another option for Moyes.
BBC reporter Giulia Bould was asked about the potential of Alcaraz being used as a false nine for Everton and said the following: “He has played a false nine before at Southampton and certainly made an impression coming on against Palace, where he changed the game.
“Moyes has tended to play with an out-and-out striker over the years but if the goal tally remains low, I see false nine as an option he could try out.”
Everton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
It is a scenario that fans likely would not have foreseen, but it could be an interesting solution at some point during the season.
However, Moyes is likely to stick with either Barry or Beto in the upcoming games as he hopes to play one of his number nines into form.
Carlos Alcaraz’s record as a false nine
Throughout his career, Alcaraz has played just nine games in the centre of attack.
However, his record is fairly decent. In those games, he has two goals and two assists in 655 minutes, giving him an average goal contribution every 164 minutes.
One game of note is when he scored and assisted against Arsenal in a 3-3 draw in 2023/2024 while playing as a centre forward.
In comparison to Beto last season, he had a goal or assist every 184 minutes.
Of course, the Portuguese does have a much larger sample size, but it is an interesting comparison to make nonetheless.
Time will tell if David Moyes opts for this experiment, but it would not be the craziest thing to try.