**Everton’s pre-season tour of Germany ended in defeat, undone by profligate finishing and defensive lapses that overshadowed a bright attacking display against Stuttgart at the MHPArena.**
David Moyes handed Jarrad Branthwaite the captaincy for the day, pairing him at centre-back with Jake O’Brien in an experimental defensive shape, while Merlin Röhl continued his (hopefully temporary) conversion to right-back.
New signing Christian Nørgaard missed out after failing to join the squad in Germany, and James Garner remains out following minor groin surgery.
For long spells of the first half, Everton were the better side without anything to show for it. Tyler Dibling had one of his most encouraging performances in an Everton shirt, combining well with Charly Alcaraz down the left, but Beto endured a miserable afternoon in front of goal, missing several presentable chances — including one glaring opportunity from close range with the goal at his mercy.
Tim Iroegbunam was forced off early, replaced by Michael Keane, ending the Branthwaite-O’Brien pairing’s afternoon in central defence prematurely when O’Brien himself later moved to cover at full-back.
Stuttgart’s opener, scored by Nartey, followed a mistake in the build-up attributed to Branthwaite, before a second goal arrived from a corner shortly after half-time as Everton’s struggle in defending set-pieces continued.
Mark Travers had an otherwise excellent game between the posts, denying Stuttgart on multiple occasions, including a smart save to prevent an own goal from a goalmouth scramble.
Everton hit back when Thierno Barry, on for Beto, won and converted a penalty to make it 2-1 — an eye-catching cameo that stood out on a difficult afternoon for the side.
But sloppy defending resurfaced late on, a loose Keane clearance handing Stuttgart their third and putting the result beyond Everton’s reach.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall almost pulled one back deep into a lengthy stoppage-time period, heading narrowly wide from a corner.
Everton return to Merseyside before heading to Murrayfield (Edinburgh) to play Newcastle before concluding their pre-season schedule against Lille at the Hill Dickinson next Saturday.