Everton remain firmly in the hunt for European football despite a heartbreaking end to the Merseyside derby.
The Toffees are just a point away from Chelsea – who sit sixth – so qualification for the UEFA Europa League is still absolutely possible. Barring that, a spot in the UEFA Conference League is also there for David Moyes if Everton finish seventh.
However, we feel none of this would have been possible without the Glaswegian putting his faith in Beto in January.
Should Everton actually be getting Beto tied down to a new contract? 🤔
He'll only have a year left this summer…
A custom graphic showing a quote from Beto after Everton's win over Chelsea.
David Moyes choosing to back Beto has kept Everton competitive
Everton were tentatively looking for a new striker in January, although the Liverpool Echo believe Moyes had hope that Beto would burst into form after netting a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw away to Brighton, and decided against selling the Guinea-Bissau international to make room for another forward.
It was a bold call at the time, as the former Udinese man had only scored two goals in 23 Premier League games before that equaliser at the AMEX Stadium.
That decision has paid off handsomely, as the Everton No.9 has scored five goals and provided one assist in nine appearances since that equaliser against Brighton, keeping the Toffees in the hunt for European football.
Furthermore, if a new striker had arrived but struggled to settle, Moyes would have been relying on Thierno Barry to keep the European hopes alive, a player who has been well below par in recent weeks.
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The Frenchman no longer appears to even be trying. Barry was booed by supporters during the 3-0 win over Chelsea, having allegedly invited his friends into the away end for the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, only for them to end up fighting Everton fans.
The Everton No.11 was also absolutely abysmal after replacing Beto in the Merseyside derby, putting in a pathetic performance which made it feel as if the Toffees had gone down to ten men.
Thoughts on Barry’s cameo vs Liverpool? 😬
Thierno Barry of Everton reacts during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Credit: Getty Images/Molly Darlington
Fortunately, Beto is still delivering and working his socks off to get Everton into Europe, but it all could have been so different if Moyes decided not to show faith in the 28-year-old in January.
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