Alan Shearer slams ‘frightened’ Neal Maupay after what he saw in Everton 1-0 win v Leeds United
Alan Shearer has slammed Neal Maupay for his lack of movement for Everton during their crucial Premier League win against Leeds United.
Séamus Coleman’s ambitious second-half effort was enough for Sean Dyche’s side to move out of the relegation zone in the Premier League.
However, the former Newcastle striker was still scathing of the Toffees’ summer signing after they struggled to break their visitors down at Goodison Park.
“They’re so poor in forward positions with Maupay and Calvert-Lewin in particular, it’s a bit harsh on Simms,” said Shearer (Match of the Day, 1hr 1m 54s, 18 February).
“The other two [Calvert-Lewin and Maupay], those stats are embarrassing. He changed it around today with Maupay ahead of Simms, you got to think and make some movement, it looked to me as if he didn’t want to get in there because I am frightened to miss.
“You will never score goals if you have that attitude.”
Solution
The win against Leeds on Saturday (18 February) could well prove to be absolutely vital in the Toffees’ battle to beat the drop. The game certainly wasn’t a footballing spectacle, but Dyche’s men looked like the one side who had a decisive moment in them.
Everton now have another golden opportunity to extend the gap on the bottom three when they face Aston Villa at Goodison Park on Saturday (25 February). The Villans have now lost three matches on the spin and have been shipping goals of late.
However, Shearer is right in his assessment of Everton’s striking issues at present. Maupay has been an extremely underwhelming signing since his arrival on Merseyside and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been his injury-prone self once again.
If Premier League survival can be secured then ensuring a new forward arrives at the club in the summer is an absolute must for Dyche. Tutto Udinese claim (15 February) Portuguese striker Beto is still very much on Everton’s radar after a failed January swoop – and this could be one to keep an eye on when the summer window opens.