5 Telling Stats from Everton’s Bleak 3-1 Loss to Bournemouth

Another Everton “performance”.

Thankfully it is the last one for seven weeks.

AFC Bournemouth secured the points, but it wasn’t enough to save them. But can the Blues learn anything from the numbers after this showing?

Needless

Everton dispossessed 16 times in own half

The first half was a near carbon copy of Southampton’s visit to Goodison Park a few weeks ago. The away side dominated proceedings with a high press that Everton played right into.

Despite Bournemouth frequently committing four or five players to the high press, Everton nevertheless persisted with “playing out from the back”, rather than bypassing the Cherries press into the vast swathes of space behind.

This led to the Blues losing the ball in dangerous places time and again. In total the Blues lost the ball 16 times in their own half, compared to 12 in the opposition half (where it’s more understandable). For context, Bournemouth lost the ball just nine times in their own half, but 17 in the attacking half.

WhoScored

Conservative

Blues too slow and cautious on the ball

Old habits die hard, they say, and that’s clearly a problem at Everton.

This performance was reminiscent of the bad habits picked up under both Roberto Martinez and Marco Silva in recent years, with the Blues being too slow and conservative on the ball. Often preferring to play a “safe” sideways or backwards pass rather than driving into space or actively trying to create a chance.

Both Everton and Bournemouth had 13 shots at goal, but Bournemouth deservedly scored three, despite having just 30% of possession. This vanity possession that Everton are often found guilty of needs to end, especially if we’re trying to score. The Blues simply have to move the ball quicker and more progressively.

Again, for context, check out Everton’s “action areas” (in orange) compared to Bournemouth’s (blue). Everton are dawdling on the ball in their own half or endlessly recycling possession after finally breaching the other team’s half.

WhoScored

Another Pickford Error

Fourth error leading to goal this season

I’ve really tried to avoid criticising Pickford in the past as I do think he has the potential to cement his position as a top goalkeeper.

And, for most of the game against Bournemouth, he was excellent. But, yet again, he had another momentary lapse in concentration as Junior Stanislas’s relatively tame effort slipped through his fingers.

That was his fourth error that led to a goal this season, with only Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka having more (five).

It seems to be a weekly occurrence now that Pickford has a moment of madness and, in any other area of the pitch, you can get away with that. But in goal, you need to be near perfect for 90 minutes.

He needs to find a solution to these “moments” in the summer break.

Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Set Pieces

Joint third most goals conceded from set pieces (15)

One of the biggest criticisms of Everton under Marco Silva was just how often the Blues conceded from set pieces.

And while we’re no longer the worst in the league for conceding from dead ball situations, only two relegated sides (Norwich City and Watford FC) fared worse than us in the league.

Everton conceded their 15^th goal of the season when Dominic Solanke (of course) rose highest to send Bournemouth ahead going into the break.

Naturally, the lack of experienced centre-backs in recent weeks hasn’t helped the situation, but over the course of the season, Everton are still conceding from too many set pieces.

Time to get keen on Kean?

3 key passes, 70% pass success and one goal

Undoubtedly the most promising thing to come out of this game for Everton was the performance of 20-year-old Moise Kean, who was awarded just his sixth start of the season.

The Italian striker has looked over-enthusiastic in most of his appearances from the bench this season, but with more time on the pitch to enjoy, Kean showed significantly more composure and quality on the ball and was suitably rewarded with a goal.

Most impressively, Kean made three key passes – two of which were excellently executed early on – while also completing an impressive 70% of his passes, three dribbles, registering four shots and, of course, scoring one goal.

It’s been a tough season for Moise, but there’s no doubt this lad has real potential.

The Carlo Ancelotti evolution starts now.