Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Mon 20 April 2026 18:10, UK

The picture spoke a thousand words, and yet didn’t quite say enough.

For there was nothing that could have accurately captured the sheer cruelty of Jarrad Branthwaite’s latest injury blow. The centre-back appeared to have damaged his hamstring again in Everton‘s 2-1 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday, and will shortly undergo scans.

A very nervous wait will then ensue. He is undoubtedly the best defender at David Moyes‘ disposal, and losing him will only make the setback against their Merseyside rivals sting even more. It was also a brutal reminder of how sharp life can be at the top end.

Branthwaite went down clutching the back of his right leg in the 87th minute at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and almost immediately, the air was sucked out of the ground. Supporters appeared to leap straight to the worst-case scenario.

Adding insult to literal injury on a bruising day, Everton were then robbed of a point at the death after Virgil van Dijk scored a 100th-minute winner from a corner.

Jarrad Branthwaite injury damaging for Everton

Branthwaite’s enforced withdrawal seemed to ratchet up the tangible nerves among the home players, who dug in as valiantly as they could to protect a draw. It was little wonder, then, that Moyes was reduced to a blank stare into the distance after Van Dijk headed in.

It was an emotionally scarring day which threatens to derail Everton’s bid for Europe. How they respond over the coming days may well dictate the outcome of their campaign, but they will have to rally without Branthwaite, who deserves better than such bitter fortune.

The defender was understandably reduced to tears after being escorted away on a stretcher. He was later spotted leaving Hill Dickinson Stadium on crutches.

Let’s cast back to the start of the season. Branthwaite missed the first five months with his first hamstring injury and underwent surgery in October after what was described as a “complication” in his rehabilitation. That resulted in him only returning in late January.

How quickly emotions can change. In the opening 25 minutes, Everton dominated Liverpool. The crowd were whipped up into a frenzy pre-match, and this raucousness stretched well beyond the first whistle. The hosts were daring, but equally balanced this with organisation.

For a while, it looked as though they would get the victory they were so desperate for, the one which would have closed the gap on their city rivals to just two points.

But it wasn’t meant to be. Mohamed Salah’s opener put a dampener on the wild atmosphere, and despite Beto scoring an equaliser, the dramatic coda went against the hosts.

Left to pick over the pieces this week, Moyes’ biggest concern is likely to be Branthwaite’s setback. He will know that the timing couldn’t have been much worse. The stalwart has been restricted to just 10 Premier League matches – and 681 minutes – this season.

Moyes had worked hard to ease him back into the first-team set-up. He didn’t travel with his team-mates to the warm-weather training camp in Portugal last month, while the club had set out a plan to carefully manage his minutes until the end of the campaign.

“Jarrad was probably the best player on the pitch at times today,” said Moyes post-match. “I thought he played so well. I’m worried it could be serious, but we’ll need to wait and see.”

It is this chilling anticipation that sets up a difficult question. It is now obvious that Everton will have to strengthen at centre-back, and they are likely to bring in someone able to slot straight into the starting XI. Naturally, that raises doubts over Branthwaite’s future.

How much will Everton demand for Branthwaite?

Manchester United are known to want to sign Branthwaite, and while his latest injury blow may give them reason to pause, they are unlikely to pull out entirely. He will command a hefty price tag, likely around £70million, and Everton may be tempted to cash in.

In the short term, they will put together a rehabilitation plan upon discovering the extent of the injury, with transfer movement at the end of the season very unlikely.

However, there can be no guarantees after that.

It is tempting to ponder whether Branthwaite would have helped his team-mates repel Liverpool’s final attack, from which Van Dijk scored the winner. He is Everton’s most accomplished defender, and his absence was certainly keenly felt during the closing stages.

James Tarkowski, his usual partner at centre-back, was beaten too easily by Van Dijk at the corner and looked in disbelief as he hovered on the pitch at full-time.

Without Branthwaite, the Toffees now have a mountain to climb. The gap between them and the Champions League places is now eight points with just five games left. But there is still plenty to play for, so it is crucial they get back on track – and soon.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.