Everton ‘unknown factor’ revealed after what ‘fantastic’ Carlos Alcaraz did
Everton have an “unknown factor” in their hands ahead of the Merseyside derby against Liverpool after what Carlos Alcaraz has done.
Alcaraz was Everton’s only signing of the winter transfer window, arriving on a loan-to-buy deal from Flamengo on deadline day.
However, the Argentina Under-23s international appears to have hit the ground running at Goodison Park, having already made his debut, albeit from the bench.
The midfielder had a 25-minute cameo in the Toffees’ 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth at home in the FA Cup on Saturday, 8 February, and managed to blow Paul Merson away during that period.
Carlos Alcaraz stakes claim to start v Liverpool
Like Merson, Michael Ball was also impressed with what he saw from Alcaraz’s brief cameo against Andoni Iraola’s side, hailing his impact as “fantastic”.
The former Everton player is of the view that the Flamengo loanee adds an “unknown factor” to the team and feels it will stand them in good stead moving forward.
He also opined that Alcaraz has staked a claim to be in the starting line-up against Liverpool on Wednesday (12 February), although he is not sure who he would replace.
“When Carlos Alcaraz came on, what he did ability wise was fantastic, but it was also basic”, Ball wrote in his column on the Liverpool ECHO website (11 February). “He got the ball down and ran with it.
“That’s what you want, players with a bit of intent. But most of the time we just looked to pass the buck.
“Alcaraz also brings the unknown factor, which is great. Moyes has mentioned that he’s come in and he looks very fit as often new signings from overseas need time to get up to speed with the Premier League.
“He’d only been in the building a few hours but showed accountability when he told everyone to get out of the way and take the free kick and hit the post.
“When he won a tackle, he drove forwards with the ball and tried to break the lines with his running ability.
“Alcaraz also showed that he can make the right choices on the ball in possession, getting the ball out wide to fellow substitute Jack Harrison to put the crosses in.
“Carlos has put himself up there to potentially start but who might he come in for?”
David Moyes must make Carlos Alcaraz decision at Everton
Wednesday’s game will be the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park ever as Everton prepare to move to the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium next season.
Therefore, this might be the Toffees’ biggest game between now and the end of the campaign and there is no doubt that David Moyes will be aware of that too.
The Scottish tactician, thus, has some big decisions to make regarding his team, with Alcaraz likely to be one of them.
It is worth noting that the Argentinian came on for Abdoulaye Doucoure on Saturday.
The 32-year-old has been a regular starter for the Goodison Park outfit this season and even netted in the 4-0 win against Leicester the previous Saturday (1 February).
The situation is, therefore, likely to pose a major dilemma for Moyes as he decides who to start against Arne Slot’s side.
Given the size of the game, it is possible that Alcaraz will be restricted to another substitute appearance on Wednesday.