Everton’s 2025/26 Premier League season did not exactly get off to the ideal start against Leeds United.
David Moyes will be walking into Finch Farm on Tuesday morning knowing full well that he has a lot he needs to improve ahead of the weekend.
Mark Clattenburg agreed with Leeds’ penalty award on Monday night, suggesting James Tarkowski blocked the shot with his arm regardless of his positioning.
It is a bitter pill that Everton are going to have to swallow, with a huge game coming up on the weekend.
The Toffees play their first Premier League game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Moyes will want to see more Everton signings made, and there was one player who left the 62-year-old particularly frustrated.
Leeds United v Everton - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
David Moyes left furious with Everton’s Jordan Pickford
Tarkowski was left baffled by the penalty decision, as he said the linesman was the official to actually make the decision.
The alleged handball was the major talking point of the evening, but Jamie Carragher also picked up on Moyes’ frustration with one Everton player.
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In the build-up to the penalty, Jordan Pickford played a risky pass, which put Carlos Alcaraz under serious pressure in the middle of the park.
“I just noted David Moyes’ reaction, and then as soon as I saw the penalty incident, I asked them to run it back so I could see Moyes’ reaction on what I saw earlier,” said Carragher.
“He’s frustrated with Jordan Pickford. Yes, it’s a mistake in midfield and a slip, but he doesn’t want Pickford playing this ball in midfield.
“He thinks Pickford is putting Alcaraz in trouble. A lot of other managers would think the midfielder should deal with that, but Moyes was thinking: ‘We haven’t played well, it’s 0-0 and Elland Road, we’ll take our point and get out of here.’ So he was frustrated.”
Carragher praised Pickford as Everton’s best player last season, but it was clear he could have avoided putting his teammate under pressure.
It is the fine margins which cost Everton, but Moyes and his coaching staff will have plenty to work on at Finch Farm ahead of Sunday.
Everton must start Jack Grealish vs Brighton & Hove Albion
All eyes were on whether Jack Grealish would start the game at Elland Road following his move last week.
The 29-year-old did not start, but he was introduced in the second half in Yorkshire.
Everton’s attack left a lot to be desired on Monday night, but there were signs of improvement in the second half.
After getting a small glimpse at him, Everton fans were impressed with Grealish and the potential partnership he could form with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Clearly, fans will want to see Grealish from the start on the weekend.