Confidence is not exactly sky high in the visiting camp as David Moyes prepares to make his return to West Ham United with a Europe-chasing Everton this weekend.
Moyes confirmed during his press conference on Friday lunchtime that both Beto and Jarrad Branthwaite will be missing for the Toffees.
The former suffered a concussion shortly after scoring the equaliser in last week’s Merseyside derby defeat by Liverpool, while Branthwaite is out with a season-ending hamstring issue.
What changes would you make to this team? Feel free to tell me how wrong I’ve got it 😂
Beto unavailable v West Ham United as Everton fans fear the worst
Everton are sadly used to life without Branthwaite these days. The England international made his belated first appearance of 2025/26 as recently as January. The experienced Michael Keane should slot in alongside former West Ham United target James Tarkowski.
But the absence of Beto, not only Everton’s top scorer but the man who leads the press and uses his physicality to rattle central defenders, leaves a sizeable void in David Moyes’ frontline.
“You can hear West Ham celebrating from here,” one extremely pessimistic Toffees supporter wrote on X in response to Beto’s confirmed absence. “It’s been fun 25/26, see you next season.”
Including that Liverpool strike, Beto has four goals and one assist in his last three Premier League games. Thierno Barry, Everton’s second-choice number one, is on a run of one goal in ten, in contrast.
Barry was ‘dreadful’ off the bench against Arne Slot’s side. The reaction from the Everton faithful to suggestions that the much-maligned Frenchman could take Beto’s place speaks for itself.
“We are doomed if Barry starts! Play Iliman [Ndiaye] up top, [Tyrique] George left, [Tyler] Dibling right.”
“You cannot play Barry. Put anyone up there or just play with ten [men]! Anything’s better…”
“The good news keeps on coming,” another sighs, comments dripping with sarcasm. “I’d honestly rather stick Keane up front.”
“Never ever thought I’d be this gutted about Beto being injured.”
Every word Nuno has said on Everton 👇 – what’s your early score prediction now?
“Honestly, [Beto is] a bigger miss than Branthwaite.”
“Think Beto would have caused them no end of problems. Hope [Moyes] doesn’t go with Barry.”
“Gutted that there’s no Beto, shows how good his form has been over recent weeks. Interesting to see how we set up.
“Huge blow for us. Barry now has a chance to step up and answer his critics by what he shows on the pitch – fairly deserved criticism, by the way.”
No Premier League outfit has more clean sheets than West Ham since Axel Disasi made his debut against Burnley in February. Their odds of a sixth shutout in ten matches may have just shortened considerably.
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