After an unbeaten start to the Premier League season, back-to-back defeats have exposed Everton‘s attacking frailties.
The Toffees avoided defeat in each of their opening six league games this term.
However, a Pedro Neto double handed them their first defeat against Chelsea, and they followed that with a 2-0 loss to reigning champions Arsenal last weekend.
That’s two successive blanks for David Moyes‘ side, though it’s not as if they haven’t had chances.
Big chances going begging
If Everton were more clinical, they would be much further up the Premier League’s scoring charts.
The Toffees have scored only eight times in as many matches this season, and only the bottom three (six each) have found the net fewer times.
That tally would be significantly higher with a sharper cutting edge.
They’ve already missed 20 big chances, joint-second most in the division with Nottingham Forest. Only Bournemouth (21) have failed to convert more.
Everton have scored just four big chances, a conversion rate of only 16.67%. That’s the second-worst in the Premier League, ahead of only Fulham (11.76%), and a long way behind the most clinical side, Ipswich Town (62.5%).
It’s also a significant drop for Everton. Their 42.03% big chance conversion rate last season was bettered only by Chelsea and Nottingham Forest (both 44.12%). Had they matched that rate this term, they would have around six more goals, putting them level with Brentford on 14.
Barry the main culprit
Everton’s undisputed No.9, Thierno Barry has started all eight Premier League games this season and scored three goals.
That’s not a bad return, but it should be a lot higher given the chances he’s had.
He’s already missed 12 big chances, by far the most in the Premier League and four more than his nearest challenger, Bournemouth’s Rayan.
To make matters worse for Barry, that’s three more than he missed in the whole of last season (nine).
Lack of goalscoring outlets
Barry not firing on all cylinders wouldn’t be such a problem if Everton had somebody who could genuinely challenge him for his place.
Nor would it be so bad if there were plenty of goals coming from elsewhere.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has chipped in with two goals this season and Tyrique George has one, while the other two have come from defenders James Tarkowski and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Their attacking options were dented by the sale of Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City, and you feel a striker will be high on Moyes’ priority list come the January transfer window.