Everton lost the first ever Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Jamie Carragher’s pre-match verdict about Beto looks to be spot on.
There is huge frustration this evening, with Everton losing ground in the hunt for European football as they fell 2-1 to the Reds.
What went wrong there for Everton? 😫
Heartbreak for the Blues in the derby
Beto of Everton leaves the pitch due to a injury during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton started really well, but found themselves 1-0 down after a goal by Mo Salah. This took the wind out of Everton’s sails after they thought they’d taken the lead through Iliman Ndiaye, only for the goal to be ruled offside.
Beto equalised in the second-half, and the game appeared to be heading for a draw.
But Virgil van Dijk’s last-gasp header meant all three points for Liverpool.
The inquest will now begin into how Everton lost this game. But arguably, their cause wasn’t helped when Beto went off.
Beto had a superb game vs Liverpool
Everton fans watched Beto squander a really good chance in the first-half, when he was put through on goal by Jarrad Branthwaite.
Jamie Carragher looks on.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
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But he atoned for that in the second-half, tapping home Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s cross to equalise.
People can criticise Beto’s inconsistency in front of goal, but certainly his heart and attitude cannot be questioned. And that was the case again today.
Unfortunately, Beto had to go off with a head injury after 70 minutes, and Thierno Barry was his replacement.
And this was arguably a turning point in the game, with Barry simply not as much of a handful as Beto had been.
What went wrong there for Everton? 😫
Heartbreak for the Blues in the derby
Beto of Everton leaves the pitch due to a injury during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
He had zero shots on goals, completed just 4/7 (57%) passes and won 2/4 duels.
Without doubt, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate had an easier time once Beto had left the action, and Jamie Carragher’s pre-match assessment of Everton’s two strikers looked to be spot on.
What Jamie Carragher said about Beto
Speaking ahead of the game today, Carragher said: “I think with Beto, there’s been a debate all season with Evertonians and probable David Moyes about who you play – they’re not really happy with either of them.
“I do think Beto’s got the edge over Thierno Barry, I’ve watched Barry this season. I do think Beto is the better player
Beto ahead off playing for Everton.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
“You go back a year or two, he actually gave van Dijk and Konate problems at Anfield. So he’ll be up for it, he’ll put himself about. But it’s definitely an area Everton can improve on in the summer.
As we all saw, Beto certainly did put himself about and again gave van Dijk and Konate problems.
Had he not been forced off, who knows if the end result may have been different.
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