Paul Merson destroys James Tarkowski in Everton clash v Bournemouth live on Sky Sports
Paul Merson destroyed James Tarkowski for his sloppy play as his error almost led to a Bournemouth opener in the Premier League clash at Goodison Park.
With the atmosphere on a knife edge, the crowd held its breath as Everton just escaped on the transition, although they went on to win and stay up.
Sean Dyche’s side went into the game knowing that only a win would do, with their fate in their own hands, as Leicester City and Leeds United looked toward Merseyside to capitalise on any slip-up, but it didn’t come.
Speaking live on Sky Sports Soccer Special (05:15), Merson blasted the Everton defender for his lack of concentration, which saw the Cherries go close only for the shot to be deflected for a corner.
“Tarkowski makes a terrible mistake,” he said.
“Brooks intercepts it, he’s away down the right, plays it into Solanke, he takes a touch hits it, it gets blocked. What a massive mistake.”
Cut the complacency
Everton simply could not afford any costly errors like this if they were to get the job done.
Dyche needed his players to be fully committed to the game, physically and mentally to ensure that they gave their all. The Toffees won the game of course, and they completed the task that everyone wanted with an urgency about them as the clash went on.
Whilst Bournemouth had nothing to play for in a competitive sense, the Toffees made it look as though they should have been the team fighting for their lives at the bottom with no quality on show.
Tarkowski has had a huge season since his arrival from Burnley last summer, and this one mistake will be forgotten very quickly with some wild celebrations this evening on the blue side of Merseyside.
What an end to the season, let’s hope the club can finally kick on next time around.