He was worse than Harrison: 5/10 Everton dud proved that TFG need to spend

Everton narrowly lost against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon to make it back-to-back defeats in the Premier League for the first time since David Moyes’ return in January.

Though the Toffees have now lost three of their past five matches in the division, the context behind those defeats reveals they were against three of the top five (also falling against Liverpool and Manchester City) which each contest being closely contested.

However, the lack of goals sprouting from Moyes’ team makes a telling comment on the need for new parts across the attacking areas, with the latest non-showing from Jack Harrison all but confirming his expected departure at the end of the season.

Jack Harrison’s performance vs Chelsea

Harrison scored four goals and provided three assists for Everton last season, hardly a lofty tally but decent enough, especially when considering his industrious approach.

But the Leeds United man has regressed on his second term at Goodison Park, and with his loan spell now approaching its final stages, it’s unlikely that Moyes will seek to activate a permanent clause.

One goal and one assist apiece this season isn’t good enough, with his latest struggle against Chelsea only further proving that he needs to be cut loose this summer, lest Everton fail to make the headway everyone is hoping for next year.

The fact that Moyes hooked the right winger just after the hour mark highlights his struggle, having been hemmed in his own half for the lion’s share of the first half. He did send one good pass Beto’s way, but it wasn’t enough to convince Moyes he could play a part in the late attacking flurry.

However, Everton’s issues don’t just centre around the frontal players. Indeed, The Friedkin Group must invest in a range of positions this summer if Bramley Moore is to reach the heights envisaged.

And that includes making upgrades in the defensive area, where Everton are at their strongest. That’s because Nathan Patterson proved it would be a risk to enter the 2025/26 season with him as the first-choice option at right-back.

Nathan Patterson showed why Everton need to spend

Patterson has struggled big time with injuries over the past several years, only making 58 appearances since joining from Rangers in a £16m deal back in January 2022.

Against Chelsea, the Scotsman, 23, made just his second Premier League start of the season and Moyes probably wasn’t all that impressed.

Noni Madueke completed four dribbles and won nine of his total 13 contested duels, largely finding success against the struggling Patterson.

The Liverpool Echo didn’t hold back when providing their assessment of the mismatch, branding the right-back with a 5/10 match rating after being run ragged by the sparkling Englishman.

With Michael Keane, Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young all ostensibly departing at the end of their contracts this summer, Everton are certainly going to need new defenders.

Though the likes of TEAMtalk have recently reported the Blues are scouring the market for potential centre-halves, Patterson’s rusty performance made a firm comment on the importance of signing a new right-back too, with Jake O’Brien called back into the middle following James Tarkowski’s season-ending hamstring injury.

Patterson’s shoddy injury record and consequent discordance on the field suggest that Everton need to sign a new right-back this summer.

Packing the frontline with fresh quality is the most obvious area in need of refurnishing, but TFG need to balance the summer outlay to ensure they can make real progress next year.

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