Everton player ratings after the pre-season friendly with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park
ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley has covered Everton and Liverpool both in the Premier League and abroad since 2005. He cut his teeth in professional sports journalism at the Ellesmere Port Pioneer and then the Welsh edition of the Daily Post, where he also covered Manchester United.
Prior to that he worked on the student newspaper Pluto at the University of Central Lancashire, a role in which he first encountered David Moyes. Chris is well-known for his sartorial elegance and the aforementioned Scottish manager once enquired of him at a press conference: “Is that your dad’s suit you’ve got on?” while the tradition continued in 2023 with new Blues boss Sean Dyche complimenting him on his smart appearance.
Beto battles for the ball at Blackburn (Photo by Ben Roberts – Danehouse /Getty Images)
Everton fell to a 1-0 defeat to Championship Blackburn Rovers in their second pre-season friendly at Ewood Park. Despite naming what was – apart from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford – his strongest possible XI at this stage – David Moyes saw his side fall behind to a Dion De Neve strike just seven minutes into the contest, from what was a soft goal to concede with the Blackburn player in acres of space at the back post, and there was no way back for them.
Rovers looked the most lively side throughout and despite a few tidy passages of play, Everton were mostly toothless ahead of moving out to the USA for the Premier League Summer Series next week.
Mark Travers
Not the start any debutant goalkeeper would want, conceding after just seven minutes but in truth, he could do nothing about it and otherwise he looked composed enough and did well to turn John Buckley’s free-kick from just outside the area around the post late on.
READ MORE: Blackburn Rovers vs Everton LIVE – De Neve goal, score and commentary stream
Nathan Patterson
Again, we saw the two sides of the Scotland international as pushed forward well and got himself into good positions, but his final touch often let him down and was nowhere to be seen when Dion De Neve was left open at the back post for Blackburn’s early goal.
Vitalii Mykolenko
A similar story to his fellow full-back on the opposite flank, the Ukrainian was often able to push forward but needed to show more assurance in the final third.
Jake O’Brien
Was unable to stop the cross from the lively Todd Cantwell that created Rovers’ opener but looked a significant threat when he switched to right-back for the final half an hour, pushing forward with purpose and firing a shot into the side-netting.
Jarrad Branthwaite
Like the rest of his defence, he was caught napping somewhat for what was a soft goal but other than that shared blame, he looked his usual imperious self.
Idrissa Gueye
Fresh from extending his second spell at Everton into a fourth season, the veteran midfielder – handed the captain’s armband – was straight back into the thick of things with slide tackles, winding up the opposition, and unfortunately, an inviting shot that flew wide.
James Garner
Industrious again in the engine room, but you’d like to see him playing a bit more expansively given what we know he possesses in his locker.
Dwight McNeil
Another mercurial outing as an inverted right winger, there were a few silky touches, but nothing quite came off, especially set-pieces which were not up to his usual high standards.
Charly Alcaraz
Operating in the number 10 role, this wasn’t the Argentinian’s day as despite a few flickers among some tidy moves, including having one shot blocked, his touch was uncharacteristically loose at times.
Iliman Ndiaye
Making his first appearance back, like fellow Senegal international Gueye, he shook off the rust with some fancy footwork early on by the touchline, but like so many of his colleagues, he’s still some way off full sharpness and a low second half shot was too close to Balazs Toth in the Rovers goal.
Beto
Put himself about against Blackburn’s defenders but found clearcut opportunities in short supply with his best opening coming when Gueye threaded a through-ball to him that was tantalisingly out of reach.
Substitutes
Michael Keane (on 59 for Patterson)
Solid half hour.
Harrison Armstrong (on 59 for Gueye)
A few probing passes from deep but conceded a dangerous free-kick just outside his area.
Isaac Heath (on 59 for Ndiaye)
Another run-out down the left but couldn’t work an opening this time.
Youssef Chermiti (on 70 for Beto)
No way through.
Justin Clarke (on 70 for Alcaraz)
Another cameo on the right, highlighting Everton’s lack of options there.
Jenson Metcalfe (on 79 for McNeil)
Late opportunity for first team minutes.