Erling Haaland scored twice against Everton, but David Moyes has hinted that one player was at fault for his first.
The Norwegian’s two goals punished the Toffees’ missed chances, with Beto fluffing two golden opportunities in the opening half.
David Moyes suggested Beto should have done better, and perhaps if he had scored, the outcome would have been different.
However, Moyes has also pointed towards another Everton player who he thinks was at fault for the loss.
Michael Keane and James Tarkowski of Everton put Erling Haaland of Manchester City under pressure
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
David Moyes says Michael Keane should have stuck with Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland’s two goals were preventable, and David Moyes’ post-match comments highlight how they could have stopped him scoring.
In the Scotsman’s mind, there was one player who should have done much better in defending the first goal, and that is Michael Keane.
Speaking after the game, Moyes said via BBC Sport, “Disappointed we allowed a pass to go through that O’Reilly goes onto. In that moment we got caught with a pass that cut them open.
“The centre halves did well, but [Michael] Keane could’ve stayed with Haaland a bit more. The second goal was a bit the same; we tried to double up on Savinho, and in doing so, we left Haaland in space, which is never good. He didn’t connect well, but a goal is a goal.”
MORE EVERTON STORIES
Everton’s defence has been riding their luck this season
Everton’s defending has been a concern this season, despite their ranking of eighth for goals conceded per match, with 1.1.
However, when you look at the expected goals conceded via FotMob, the Toffees are fourth with 12.2 xG conceded, showcasing they are giving up a lot of chances this season.
Jordan Pickford is a quality goalkeeper, and James Tarkowski is often underrated for his abilities. But relying on individuals to stop goals rather than it being a team effort is not sustainable.
At the moment, it is working out in most matches, but that luck could eventually dwindle, and Moyes needs to find a solution.