The Chris Beesley talking points after Everton go down to a 2-1 Premier League defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: West Ham United's Tomas Soucek scores his side's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton at London Stadium on April 25, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
West Ham United's Tomas Soucek scores his side's first goal during the Premier League match against Everton at London Stadium on April 25, 2026(Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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We’re told that VAR is there to cut out the bloopers, the clear and obvious errors that the on-field referee might not spot in the heat of the battle. Despite what appeared to be a decent vantage point of the incident, Stuart Attwell supposedly couldn’t see any offence when West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes reached out to handle the ball when marking Everton striker Thierno Barry in the home penalty area.
Even if that’s the case, over at Stockley Park you’ve got Michael Salisbury and Daniel Robathan on VAR duty, so it seems inexplicable that none of the trio could not see what obviously looked like anything but a natural movement from the Portuguese midfielder.
With Manchester City at home next on the horizon for the Blues, there were shades of Rodri ‘playing basketball’ at Goodison Park back in February 2022.
Everton received an apology for that, but such words offer cold comfort in such a ruthless result-driven business with these bloopers repeatedly happening over four years on.
No Barry chuckle
With Beto having netted four goals in his last three games but unavailable for this match due to a concussion injury against Liverpool, this was always going to be a big day for Thierno Barry as he was handed his first start since the 1-0 home defeat to Manchester United on February 23.
That’s now just one goal in his last 11 matches for the £27million summer signing, but while he was starting from a very low bar, this was at least an improvement in terms of his application.
Many would argue that it is a bare minimum from an Everton centre-forward to at least put themselves about and close down opponents, but after looking out of sorts against the Reds the previous weekend, Barry was closing down from the kick-off at London Stadium.
Ultimately, he failed to convert the big moments that came his way though, including a through-ball from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in a counter attack, while also finding himself dominated in both boxes by Tomas Soucek.
Unlike Beto, who did well to head away a couple of corners from Arne Slot’s side in the previous fixture before he went off, 6ft 5in Barry failed to give captain James Tarkowski the support he needed when defending against the Czech for the opener. Then, when he had a headed chance at the other end, his effort was cleared off the line by the veteran Irons campaigner.
Moyes guests spoil party for birthday boy
Talking of Soucek, it must have been painful for David Moyes that he and another of his inspired West Ham United signings Jarrod Bowen, were so instrumental in Everton’s defeat and ruining his first return to his previous employers at London Stadium.
This was the fourth time the Czech international, snapped up back in January 2020, has netted against the Blues and if it hadn’t had been for Jake O’Brien’s last-minute equaliser in the Goodison Park meeting on March 15 last year, they’d have been in a quartet of wins for the Hammers.
No wonder the statuesque midfielder claimed that the Glaswegian gaffer came calling for him to try and bring him to Hill Dickinson Stadium late in last summer’s transfer window. It’s a similar story for veteran striker Callum Wilson who came off the bench to grab the winner with what was his ninth career goal against Everton who should be grateful for small mercies after he’d previously bagged braces on four separate occasions.
Providing the assists for both West Ham goals though was another old master, Bowen, their creator supreme who seems to have been around for ages now but still doesn’t turn 30 until December 20.
Like Soucek, he arrived in January 2020, plucked from Hull City as one of Moyes’ many inspired signings from the Championship like Tim Cahill and Joleon Lescott at Everton.
No wonder the elder statesman among Premier League managers, who was marking his 63rd birthday with his 750th match in the competition, likes players who know the division. Not that he’d be in any mood to celebrate the double landmark after this late twist.
Turning the corner
Everton were the last team in the Premier League to concede from a corner kick in the division this season when Tottenham Hotspur breached them twice in such fashion to inflict a first defeat at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 26.
For a long time since, the Blues have looked much stronger when defending such scenarios, but as the campaign approaches the run-in that we call 'the business end', it’s become alarming to see Moyes’ men suddenly having a soft centre again in what has become an increasingly crucial element of the game.
With set-piece goals on the rise, the size and physicality of Everton’s team – even without Beto and Jarrad Branthwaite – should be a plus point when it comes to both attacking and defending dead ball deliveries into the box, but here they were undone again.
As long as frustrating their supporters, it’s an area where both the Blues management and players themselves are acutely aware they should be doing much better in.
It’s also a worrying habit they need to get themselves out of quickly if they’re still maintain a push for a European place in the final month and quite bluntly, people need to start doing their jobs and stop switching off in crucial moments.