Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Everton and Hull City played out a 2-2 draw at the MKM Stadium – and one decision David Moyes made certainly didn’t pay off.
Everton have maintained their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Premier League season, but missed a host of chances against Hull to take three points.
The Toffees fell behind when Joe Gelhardt finished impudently early in the second-half. But Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who impressed, got Everton back on level terms. Everton then grabbed the lead through Thierno Barry, who had missed several good chances.
But poor defending led to an equaliser by Mohamed Belloumi, on as a substitute.
Vitalii Mykolenko was unavailable due to injury today, meaning Jarrad Branthwaite played at left-back, and this move did not work out at all.
Jarrad Branthwaite moving to left-back may have cost Everton vs Hull
We have seen Branthwaite operate at left-back before, and he was Moyes’ choice today to replace Mykolenko.
But from the get-go, Branthwaite just didn’t look comfortable. He would often be high up, and then struggled to get back in as Hull broke with pace. He also looked a little laboured in the first-half.
Branthwaite then got nutmegged on the halfway line by Oli McBurnie in the build-up to Hull’s opener.
For their second goal, he also might have done better to get his body in front of Mohamed Belloumi to make a block. He has been superb at making blocks this season, but came up short in that moment.
Branthwaite could and should have had an assist to his name when he put in a great cross for Thierno Barry, who somehow missed. But it was just an uncomfortable outing for Branthwaite, and he and his fellow defenders’ struggles are on the manager.
By moving Branthwaite out wide, that also meant the disruption of the Branthwaite-Tarkowski partnership, which had been looking so strong. Moyes could have put Maitland-Niles on the left, or even James Garner. Instead, he chose to put his most in-form player at the moment out of position. But we saw how much he loved to use Jake O’Brien at right-back last season, so the decision perhaps came as no surprise.
Had Branthwaite played in the middle, Everton may well have defended both of the goals better. It emerged ahead of this game that Everton do generally fare better when Branthwaite and Tarkowski play together at centre-back.
Moyes hand was obviously forced today with the Mykolenko injury, so he had to do something. But putting Branthwaite there felt questionable, and it was a move that arguably didn’t pay off.
Branthwaite did have 10 defensive actions in today’s game, with six of those being clearances. But it was without doubt his worst showing of the season, but undoubtedly Moyes didn’t help his cause.