Everton: Sean Dyche must axe Beto at HT v Chelsea despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin absence
Sean Dyche must axe Beto at half-time if Everton are to earn an unlikely fightback against Chelsea on Monday (15 April) even without Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the bench to replace him.
The Portuguese forward missed a key chance in the first half, smashing a Seamus Coleman cross over the bar from four yards out, which turned out to be a crucial moment.
A Cole Palmer hat-trick saw the Toffees head into the half-time break 4-0 down, giving themselves an almost impossible task in the second half at Stamford Bridge.
With Calvert-Lewin unavailable due to injury, Dyche may need to change his formation. Returnee Arnaut Danjuma, Jack Harrison and Youssef Chermiti could be called upon to replace Beto instead.
Sean Dyche must axe Beto amid Everton dismal first half v Chelsea
Beto has been a hugely disappointing signing at Goodison Park, and fans will be even more frustrated after the forward spurned a perfect opportunity to take the lead after 10 minutes.
Although some may point fingers at Coleman for firing the cross into him, Beto should have still tucked away the cross, especially from just four yards out and an xG of 0.96, as per FotMob.
Everton will have come to Stamford Bridge with a very detailed plan of staying tight and taking their chances when possible. Beto’s miss is unforgivable, and Dyche must find a way to replace him at half-time.
Netting just five goals in 33 appearances since arriving at Merseyside last summer, fans will have been frustrated when seeing him in the starting lineup, and Calvert-Lewin nowhere to be seen.
He has scored just one Premier League goal since Everton’s 3-0 win over Newcastle United in December, having come on as a substitute for the final five minutes and putting the cherry on the cake against the Magpies.
Beto is clearly low on confidence, which is always an issue. And with just 13 touches in the first half, he was nowhere near involved enough to warrant coming out for the second half. [FotMob]
In other Everton news, King has reacted after legal action was mooted at Goodison Park.
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