Everton v Chelsea FC - Premier League 2026/27
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Everton’s lack of attacking threat cost David Moyes dearly in Saturday afternoon’s defeat against Chelsea.
Heading into the game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Moyes admitted Thierno Barry is missing too many chances as he leads the league with the number of ‘big chances’ missed. This was the case on Saturday as the Frenchman failed to score his header that Jack Grealish put on a plate for him.
The issue for the 63-year-old Everton boss is he has been left with no other senior options up front to choose from. Everton’s failed move for Folarin Balogun has left them extremely short in the striker department.
It's a first defeat of the season for Everton as they lose 2-0 to Chelsea 😡 Give us YOUR reaction 👇
Fed up having a ‘striker’ who keeps heading the ball straight at keepers. If we go 1-0 up at that stage, confident we’d have won. Once again, some strange selections/omissions, and some very puzzling substitutions. Norgaard clearly not ready. Hackney must be hacked off. 🔵💙IYKYH
That’s bit harsh on Moyes imo. They were there for the taking but I’d lay this at the players. Barry missed a sitter and then they conceded after 60s in the 2nd half. The subs were a bit garbage mind
His distribution after Martinez went off was terrible. It’s like the break completely blew his concentration and he never got it back. All the balls he just kicked out he had short options too
Despite this, former Everton defender Joleon Lescott has said he has personally seen Moyes get creative during his time on Merseyside with his options up top.
David Moyes urged to test Thierno Barry alternatives at Everton
Barry could have given Everton the lead in the opening 45 minutes but he was unable to direct his header from close range either side of Emi Martinez. It proved a costly miss as the Frenchman’s inconsistencies in front of goal continue.
“I’ve seen David Moyes play with Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill up front. They have minimal numbers in certain positions, maybe Brendan Johnson, and just play a different way in regards to not going direct to him, going for him down the channel a little bit more,” Lescott said on TNT Sports after full time.
“For me, the issue with Barry is just finishing. To be fair, that’s going to happen, strikers aren’t going to finish every opportunity they get. I think the ball retention is so key. I think that’s where the frustration is going to come from the manager and his teammates, because when they’re under pressure, like against Chelsea, when they go up to him, it doesn’t stick. All of a sudden, you’re under sustained pressure, and then you can’t get out. I think that’s where the improvement needs to come before we start criticising every opportunity he doesn’t score.”
The Everton striker did manage to get all three of his shots on target but the 23-year-old was unable to get the better of Martinez. Due to Everton’s lack of options, it meant that the struggling striker played the full 90 minutes which is certainly an issue.
Johnson is yet to score for Everton in the Premier League after seeing his effort last weekend against Hull City disallowed. The Wales international’s cameo appearance against Chelsea left a lot to be desired out on the right-wing.
Having lost the ball 10 times out of his 21 touches, there are clear areas for Barry to work on during the week and a tactical change from Moyes to provide him with a partner could be an option. Brennan Johnson has not shown enough since he joined the club but Lescott clearly feels that the former Tottenham Hotspur winger could potentially play alongside Barry.