Everton fell to defeat in the opening game of the season, losing 1-0 away at newly-promoted Leeds United.
The Toffees headed to Elland Road on Monday night, kicking off their Premier League season against Leeds United.
Everton showed promising signs under David Moyes last season, and many are looking to see a step forward this term.
New signing Jack Grealish was on the Everton bench, and the Toffees have the potential to really kick on this season.
Everton didn’t show that ability on Monday night, though, and were second best for most of the game as Leeds ran out 1-0 winners.
Lukas Nmecha’s winner came from a contentious penalty decision, with James Tarkowski harshly penalised for handball inside the area.
Nmecha slotted home and handed Everton an opening-day defeat, with Moyes coming under scrutiny for some decisions…
Everton boss David Moyes gives instructions against Leeds United
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
James Garner at left-back
Moyes was without first-choice left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko for the trip to West Yorkshire, as the Ukrainian missed out through injury.
Summer signing Adam Aznou wasn’t even on the bench, so Moyes’ options at left-back were far from ideal.
Still, using right-footed James Garner in that role just didn’t look right, and he never truly looked comfortable in that position.
A back three with Dwight McNeil as a left-wing back and Garner on the right side may have made more sense for Everton on the night.
Putting faith in Beto
Beto enjoyed a purple patch last season, but the jury is certainly still out on the Guinea-Bissau international.
Moyes went with Beto from the start against Leeds, despite Thierno Barry starting the final pre-season game against Roma.
Beto was almost completely ineffectual and failed to hold the ball throughout, handing possession back to Leeds far too regularly.
Even when Moyes brought summer signing Barry on, it was alongside Beto rather than replacing him – and it’s difficult to see how Beto managed to play the full game.
Strange lack of Dwight McNeil
As mentioned earlier, Dwight McNeil could have been an option as a left wing-back, but he didn’t even get off the bench.
Carlos Alcaraz didn’t exactly impress on the right flank, and it was Barry who came on for the Argentinian as Moyes went with two strikers.
Barry and Beto are both big strikers who could thrive on crosses into the box, so not even turning to McNeil as an option from the bench felt strange.
McNeil can provide quality deliveries on his left foot, and to not see him at all in a game which saw Everton muster just one shot on target didn’t add up.
An unknown injury would surely be the only explanation, with McNeil surely of some use as Everton struggled to create big chances.