Richarlison for Everton
Everton have not been free-flowing and thrilling over the first month of the 2026/27 campaign, but David Moyes will be delighted with his side's resilience and togetherness after a tough summer.
The visitors were abuzz after holding Tottenham Hotspur to a draw last time out in the Premier League. North London often marks a tough afternoon for the Toffees, but they left N17 having limited Spurs to a smattering of chances.
Wherever you stand with xG, the fact the hosts created 0.64 compared to Everton's 1.17 makes a strong comment on Moyes' side's impressive performance.
Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.
REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff
If only there was a bit more quality and depth in attack. A declining frontline has been apparent for a few years now, right since Richarlison was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for an eye-catching £60m.
How Everton have failed to replace Richarlison
When Everton sold Richarlison to Tottenham for big money, it was sad, sure, but didn't feel detrimental. The Merseysiders banked a pretty penny.
Richarlison was menacing and consistent at Goodison Park, and his time in the capital has been more erratic, now ostracised under Roberto De Zerbi after trying and failing to force a move this summer.
Richarlison goals per season (timeless)
Everton had pushed in August, but were unable to agree to terms, with the Brazilian forward's incendiary message after it fell apart only shoving him further into the shadows at Spurs.
It wasn't to be, but the subsequent failure to close deadline-day deals for one of Folarin Balogun or Joshua Zirkzee is a perfect illustration of how Everton have struggled to hit the right beats when strengthening their attack in recent years.
When you look at Iliman Ndiaye's move to Manchester City, and the failure to replace him with a like-for-like player, that frustration only deepens.
With Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also leaving in recent times, leaving Thierno Barry as the sole option at No. 9, there's no question that Everton have their work cut out in rebuilding their attack - with another flop looking like the worst deal since Richarlison was sold and replaced by the notorious Neal Maupay.
Everton man is the biggest downgrade since Richarlison to Maupay
Perhaps Farhad Moshiri thought he had pulled off a shrewd signing when Richarlison left for the capital. Maupay arrived in his place, the maverick striker joining from Brighton for £15m.
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Everton striker Neal Maupay.
What an abysmal signing. Moreover, the controversial forward's comments about the Blues has left him reviled by much of the Everton fanbase. Understandably so.
Now, it looks like selling Ndiaye to Manchester City for £65m this summer with only Brennan Johnson as his replacement on the right wing could mark the biggest downgrade since that previous switch. Against Tottenham, the Wales international missed a glorious chance to secure the points, sweeping well over after a neat pass from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Ndiaye was a special player for Everton. He made things happen, hailed for having "magic in his boots" by Toffees writer Lyndon Lloyd. Johnson pales in comparison.
To be fair, the former Crystal Palace player is not a direct replacement. He swapped with Dwight McNeil this summer - a deal which has been mooted to have cost the two clubs £22m - who finally earned his move to Selhurst Park. But Johnson tends to play off the right, and Everton's failure to sign a replacement means the spotlight is now glaring down on Johnson as he looks to produce where the Senegalese star did so with such panache last year.
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Premier League Form (2025/26)
Stats (* per 90)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Shots (on target)*
Big chances missed
Accurate passes*
Big chances created
Key passes*
Succ. dribbles*
Recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels won*
As was the case with Maupay, who only managed to score one goal across 32 appearances for the Merseyside club, it doesn't look like Johnson is going to scratch the same surface as Ndiaye, a considerable distance away from the prolific touch that characterised his earlier days at Tottenham.
Frustration must be levered toward the decision-makers. Moyes is not blameless, and technical director Angus Kinnear has made a hash of things this summer.
When on form, Johnson knows how to position himself in the box, to make the right run at the right time, but his big miss against Tottenham illustrated how out of sorts he is.
REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
His general play pales in comparison to that of Ndiaye, and there's no question that this is looking like quite the downgrade for a side who had a player of such X-factor at their disposal.
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