Wolves vs Everton, Carabao Cup: Player Ratings - Rotations and scrappy performances lead to cup exit | OneFootball

Everton’s EFL Cup journey has come to an end in the third round following a 2-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium.

David Moyes made wholesale changes to the lineup that started against Liverpool at Anfield and some of the selections didn’t make much sense. Seamus Coleman was deployed on the left flank, while the entire frontline that started at Anfield was rested tonight.

The Blues looked off colour and struggled to fashion any half-decent chances in the first half and fell behind to a Marshall Munetsi goal at the half-hour mark.

Sensing the emergency, Moyes decided to break the glass and bring on Beto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye shortly after the break, but the hosts were happy to drop back and defend in numbers, allowing little openings.

James Garner came the closest to restoring parity after hitting the woodwork from a free-kick and Sam Johnstone with a powerful shot from outside the box.

Tolu Arokodare delivered the fatal blow to Everton’s Carabao Cup hopes after chipping the ball over Mark Travers’ head just three minutes before the end.

While there was some merit to making changes to the starting XI for this game, Moyes probably made one too many, and he wasn't helped out by his players either. Despite being given a rare opportunity to stake their claim in the starting lineup, none of them made a major impression tonight and showed little desire to impose themselves on the game.

Here are the player ratings from the match:

Mark Travers: 5

Replaced Jordan Pickford in between the sticks tonight and his save off Jhon Arias’s volley was parried into the path of Marshall Munetsi, who finished it off from close range. Was also caught in no man's land with the second goal, not knowing where to rush out of his box or stay in goal. He was eventually left with Arokodare in a 1v1 situation and saw the ball being chipped over his head.

Jake O’Brien: 6

Jake O’Brien had greater licence to roam forward compared to recent games and his crosses were threatening in the first half. He had a quiet second 45, however.

James Tarkowski: 5

Tarkowski was partially at fault for the second goal and allowed Arokodare to make a run in behind Keane. With his teammates pushing high up the pitch, Tarkowski should’ve tried to play a high line instead of offering so much space in behind.

Michael Keane: 6

Could’ve probably done better to close down Munetsi after Travers’s save, but he had a strong game otherwise. He was also a threat in the opposition box and had a great headed attempt saved by Johnstone at the other end.

Seamus Coleman (replaced by Vitalii Mykolenko at 78'): 5

It was a bizarre call to play Seamus Coleman as a left-back instead of Garner or Aznou given Moyes wanted to rest Mykolenko. Coleman’s only appearance so far this season was in the previous cup game against Mansfield Town and the veteran looked rusty and off the pace against Wolves.

Tim Iroegbunam: 5

Iroegbunam was poor on the ball and incapable of finding his teammates in dangerous areas.

James Garner: 7

One of Everton’s brightest players this season had another strong performance tonight. Garner was the team’s likeliest scorer against Wolves. He rattled the frame of goal with a great free-kick and also brought out a strong save off Johnstone with a powerful shot from outside the box.

Tyler Dibling (replaced by Iliman Ndiaye at 59’): 5

On his first start for the Blues, the highly-rated teenager showed some glimpses of talent but had a quiet night at Molineux. It was probably the magnitude of the occasion but Dibling didn’t really show for the ball in that first half and was happy to let the game pass him by for large stages.

Charly Alcaraz (replaced by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at halftime): 6

Alcaraz probably looked the most lively of the four players who led Everton’s offense in the first half. He had a couple of decent moments but lacked the final pass or the killer touch to create meaningful danger. Was probably unfortunate to be one of the first to be taken off.

Dwight McNeil (replaced by Jack Grealish at 59’): 3

McNeil has been a difficult watch for a long time now. Started on the left and Coleman, 10 years his senior, looked 10 times livelier than him. Just two minutes before the break, McNeil had a glorious chance to play Alcaraz in behind on a quick counter but instead, his wide pass killed the move. Also guilty of a lot of ball-watching.

Thierno Barry (replaced by Beto at halftime): 4

Barry had the glorious opportunity to impress his manager after a non-show from Beto at Anfield but failed to capitalise on it. His body language tonight was jarring and the 22-year-old saw himself getting into the referee’s book for kicking a ball away in front of the linesman. He’s got to do better.

Substitutions

Beto: 5

Had a better game than Barry and his holdup play was cleaner but nothing else to write home about. Beto didn't see many chances tonight.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 5

Dewsbury-Hall endured a frustrating return to the ground where he opened his Everton account with a fantastic goal in the 3-2 win last month. Failed to repeat his heroics from that game.

Iliman Ndiaye: 5

While his silky feet and turns made the right flank livelier and got Ndiaye roaming into dangerous positions in the final third, the Senegalese lacked composure in his final actions. It was evident in the shot he skied over from a chance at the backpost after a wayward touch.

Jack Grealish: 6

Grealish was fouled thrice just two minutes after coming on to the match, which summed up his night. He was constantly surrounded by Wolves players who were often physical in their attempts to stop him.

Vitalii Mykolenko: 6

Didn't have a lot of time to impose himself on the game and was beaten for pace for Wolves' second goal. Ideally, Mykolenko should've started the game if there were no lingering fitness concerns.

Reader Comments (4)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

Garner was man of the match, he was quite decent.

The rest were abject that started that game.

We need to look for takers in January for Iroegbunam, McNeil and if any striker options come available, I'd look at getting either Beto or Barry moved on, sometimes you need to just cut your losses, Moyes did as much with Per Kroldrup.

We've got no pace on the flanks and I include fullbacks in that.

Criminal that we failed to address those area's.

Wednesday-Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Five days complete rest until we have got to play again and then another five days complete rest, until they play after that.

Ludicrous decision to change so many players for a team that allegedly has aspirations of winning a trophy.

For a manager who has been on the end of so many avoidable cup defeats - LETS DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN.

I hope we don't enter this Cup next year, we will never win it.

Might as well forfeit our place to someone in the non league and give them a shot at it.

Everton for 30 years now have given up on the Cups, we have had one Cup Final in 30 years, how disgraceful is that I ask you.

A club that's been ever present in the top flight and the loyal fans have had one Cup Final appearance in 30 years.