Analysis from Hill Dickinson Stadium after Everton lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon
David Moyes and Xabi Alonso (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
David Moyes and Xabi Alonso (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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When Ainsley Maitland-Niles came off the bench to score a stunning stoppage time equaliser against Manchester United in his first appearance for the club, Blues supporters could have been forgiven for thinking their prayers had been answered.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during a break from running the country earlier this summer, even issued a plea to club chiefs to end Everton’s long-running quest for a right-back.
And on deadline day when Maitland-Niles joined from Lyon, the right-back the club had long craved finally arrived. Making an instant impact against United, the former Arsenal man almost immediately gained cult hero status.
Two more solid performances followed against Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town, but what has occurred over the last two weeks is alarming.
READ MORE: Transfer window chaos finally catches up with Everton after Chelsea reversal in fortunes
After being at fault for both of Hull City’s goals last Sunday, Maitland-Niles was also at fault for Chelsea’s opener here.
Morgan Rogers released Josh Acheampong before he beat Maitland-Niles far too easily. Once beaten the 29-year-old never looked like recovering and Acheampong’s pull back was finished by Neto.
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It was the sort of defending that Maitland-Niles won't want to see again, and neither will his boss David Moyes who responded by hooking the full-back for Tyrique George. The ball had literally just hit the back of the net and the former Chelsea winger was told to get ready to come on.
Merlin Rohl moved to right-back, where he started the season, while Jake O’Brien continued to watch on from the bench.
Moyes was clear on Friday about what the Irishman has to do to earn a place in his side's starting line-up at centre-back, but the evidence here suggests a return to right-back should be considered.
For his own sake Maitland-Niles needs to be taken out of the team now. He’s costing his side goals and when you are lacking firepower like Everton are, you can’t afford to be gifting teams goals.
The only decision Moyes has to make now is whether to start O'Brien or Rohl at right-back next weekend because Maitland-Niles has already made one for him.
Jordan Pickford questions remain
When it comes to the goals Everton are conceding, it would be unfair to focus solely on Maitland-Niles, you also have to look at Jordan Pickford.
First things first, there is no doubting that Pickford has been one of Everton’s best players in recent seasons.
Seamus Coleman even admitted that without the England international the Blues would have found themselves in the Sky Bet Championship.
But there is also no doubting that Pickford could have done better for Hull’s second goal last weekend and Pedro Neto’s opener here.
Both goals were very similar: the England international managed to get down low and get a hand on both efforts, but he couldn't keep them out.
Understandably, some will argue he wasn't helped by the poor defending that led to both goals last weekend and Chelsea's opener here - and calling it "poor" is being generous.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Pedro Neto of Chelsea scores his teams first goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Chelsea FC at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gary Oakley - Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images)
Pedro Neto beats Jordan Pickford to put Chelsea in front at Everton (Image: Gary Oakley - Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images)
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But the reality is that for a goalkeeper like Pickford, who will forever be held to the highest standards because of the impressive displays he has produced in the past, questions will be asked when he concedes goals like he has done in recent weeks.
Earlier this week James Trafford made clear that he is coming for Pickford's No.1 England spot, and unlike in the case of Maitland-Niles, no-one is suggesting that he should be taken out of the Everton side and replaced by Mark Travers.
But it also wouldn't be wrong for Blues supporters to expect more from their star man. And it isn't just Pickford's ability to keep shots out that is under the microscope, his distribution is also erratic at times.
When Pickford eventually leaves Everton, he will be remembered as a club great for the role he played in keeping the Blues in the Premier League, but that also doesn't mean he should escape questions and criticism.
Another Premier League referee debate
Another week another debate about Premier League referees. There was just over 23 minutes on the clock when Everton finally started to show signs of life.
After an opening dominated by Chelsea, the Blues finally started to put their opponents under pressure.
Harrison Armstrong was at the forefront of that pressure and when he charged in on Acheampong, he produced a good old-fashioned, firm but fair tackle.
Peter Reid watching on from the stands would have been proud of the Everton youngster, it was exactly the sort of tackle Blues supporters want to see.
The reaction to it spoke volumes, but there was only one problem: not only did referee Paul Tierney decide to give a foul, he also booked Armstrong. It wasn't even a foul, let alone a booking. And Tierney couldn't reach for his yellow card fast enough.
"I thought it looked a half-decent tackle," Blues boss Moyes said afterwards. "Maybe somebody might tell me something different. I thought it was the wrong decision at the time."
To his credit, Armstrong kept his composure and went on to be Everton's best player, but he should never have been booked.
Harrison Armstrong of Everton takes a knock during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, United Kingdom, on October 17, 2026. (Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Harrison Armstrong of Everton takes a knock during the Premier League match against Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium(Image: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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That wasn't the only decision that went against the Blues, Rogers was very lucky to stay on the pitch after challenging James Garner, as was Cole Palmer, who had already been booked when he took out Jarrad Branthwaite in the closing stages.
"I've had a wee look at the Morgan Rogers tackle on Jimmy (James Garner), which some might've said something different," Moyes added.
And the Everton manager wasn't wrong. On a different day Chelsea could have found themselves down to nine men.
Take nothing away from Xabi Alonso's side, they fully deserved the three points they picked up here, but refereeing decisions change games.
If Paul Tierney had reacted as quickly to the challenges made by Rogers and Palmer as he did to Armstrong's, the outcome of this game might have been different.
A debut to forget
It was perhaps a last roll of the dice from David Moyes. With his side trailing 1-0, he brought on Christian Norgaard and Brennan Johnson in a bid to rescue something from the game.
It was Norgaard's first appearance for the Blues since he joined the club from Arsenal during the summer transfer window. But while fellow summer signing Maitland-Niles enjoyed an Everton debut to remember against Man United back in September, the same can't be said about Norgaard here.
To be blunt, the midfielder looked nowhere near fit.
Understandably, he must have been rusty having not played competitively for such a long time, but the problem for the Blues is that the Denmark international looked unprepared for a return to Premier League football.
Within a couple of minutes of coming on, he struggled to track back and keep up with Palmer after the England international broke clear following some poor play from Tyrique George.
And just a couple of minutes later, Norgaard was booked for holding Palmer on the edge of the Everton box. The resulting free-kick led to Chelsea's second goal after Jordan Henderson's initial attempt was blocked.
Norgaard's debut will go down as one to forget, but make no mistake, this wasn't his fault. Instead, Moyes has to accept it was a gamble that he got wrong.