Awkward silence falls on Match of the Day studio after what pundit said about Everton
Gary Lineker produced an awkward response to Ashley Williams after what the pundit said about Everton on Match of the Day.
The Toffees secured a hard-earned point against Crystal Palace to end their two-game losing run. However, results elsewhere mean Everton are now in the relegation zone.
Williams felt the Merseysiders “never looked” like they were going to score at Selhurst Park, a response which left Lineker in an awkward silence.
“It might end up being a really important point but I just felt like they didn’t create enough, they didn’t do much,” said Williams (Match of the Day, 1hr 10m, 22 April).
“Palace didn’t offer up much but Everton never looked like they were going to score, they defended well which you’d expect.
“If your Sean Dyche or an Everton fan you’re a bit frustrated because they just never looked like scoring which has been a problem.”
Lineker responded with an awkward silence (1h 10m 42s) after Williams’ comments on the Toffees’ goalscoring issues before asking Jermain Defoe a question on the relegation battle.
Take the positives
Everton need to take the positives out of the result in South London. Realistically, any point away in the Premier League is a good result, it’s just the Toffees’ league position which now reads for fairly grim reading. Leicester’s win over Wolves saw Dyche’s men drop into the bottom three. However, with Nottingham Forest and Leeds United both losing, it’s still fairly congested.
The goalscoring issue has been prevalent for a long period of time and it’s essential for the former Burnley boss to address the problem in the summer, regardless of Everton’s league status. Dominic Calvert-Lewin returned against the Eagles, but, on the whole, the striker cannot be trusted to stay fit for a considerable amount of time.
Neal Maupay has been completely ineffective and Ellis Simms is still finding his level. Realistically, there has to be investment at the top end of the pitch.
With Newcastle United and Leicester to follow, the games are coming thick and fast. Draws are all well and good, but, wins keep the Toffees up. Something has to change in an attacking sense heading into the run-in.