The Sky Sports pundits spoke about Everton and their manager David Moyes after Monday's 1-0 home loss to Manchester United
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at City Ground on December 15, 2023 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher believe David Moyes has Everton punching above their weight (Image: Marc Atkins, Getty Images)
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If you would have asked most Evertonians at the start of the season whether they would have taken being ninth, three points off seventh, and 12 points above the relegation places, at this stage of the campaign, many would surely have done so.
But there is no denying there is a feeling of frustration among the fan base at present given the Blues' poor home form.
After a flying start to life at Hill Dickinson Stadium, winning five and drawing two of their first nine matches at the club's magnificent new home on the waterfront, Everton are struggling badly in front of their own supporters.
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While far from being a bad performance, Monday's 1-0 loss to in-form Manchester United means David Moyes' men have now lost five of their last seven winless game at home, when you factor in the FA Cup third-round penalty shoot-out loss to Sunderland.
That has led to questions about why a team who are excelling on their travels are toiling so much back on Merseyside.
But Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville do not believe that Blues boss Moyes, whose team selection against United has caused plenty of debate given the positions in which James Garner, who was excellent at right-back, Jarrad Branthwaite and Harrison Armstrong were played, should be coming under fire.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Liverpool legend Carragher said: "There’s a little bit of frustration from Evertonians because they’re not winning at home, and you always want to do well, I get that, so there’s that frustration with the new stadium.
“That was the big excitement over the last few years. Try to stay in the Premier League and we’ll get to the new stadium.
“Also at times, and I notice this through friends and family or through social media, when Everton lose a game a lot of focus goes on the manager, as it does at most clubs, and Moyes gets a bit of criticism.
“But how David Moyes has got that squad of players in ninth position, I will never know. They’ve been on Monday Night Football six times and they very rarely impress me. They do okay, they get the job done.
“What Moyes has done since he’s come in about 12 months ago, maybe more, he’s done phenomenal. This is a team and a club that’s been fighting relegation the last few years.
“I know it’s disappointing because they’ve been so close to making the next step to European places, and that frustrates the supporters, but please don’t be pointing the finger at David Moyes.
"That squad is not the ninth-best squad of players in the Premier League.”
It's a viewpoint Man United legend, and fellow Monday Night Football pundit, Neville shares.
Speaking on his podcast after the game, he said: “I think what he’s getting out of these players here and the position they are in the league and the points total they have is absolutely fantastic because out on that pitch, it’s not a spectacular team - it’s not. They’ve got a very good set of pros who put a real shift in and that to be fair is a great quality.
“You can’t criticise any of them lads out on that pitch tonight.
“Now I always say if you’re an Everton fan leaving this stadium, they’ll be really disappointed, but what they’ll never do is question the actual commitment of the players out on that pitch.”
The Blues return to action on Saturday with a tricky test at Newcastle United (3pm). They will then get another chance to win at home for the first time since December 6 when they host relegation-bound Burnley on Tuesday (7.30pm).
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