Everton player ratings from their 1-0 final-day Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, who survive at the expense of David Moyes' former club West Ham United
Everton ended the season without a win from their final seven matches as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur that ensured their hosts stay in the Premier League at London rivals West Ham United’s expense.
Despite earning a first-minute corner, the Blues were pinned back for long periods for what was largely one-way traffic.
There was huge relief from the home fans on 43 minutes as Joao Palhinha put them ahead at the second time of asking after being left unmarked by Merlin Rohl and in truth Roberto De Zerbi’s side never looked like being in danger of dropping into the bottom three.
Everton had a bit of a go in stoppage-time with substitute Tyrique George bringing a spectacular save out of home Antonin Kinsky but it was too little, too late.
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And here is how we rated the Blues, whose seven-match winless run to end the campaign means they finish 13th.
Jordan Pickford 5
Going into his third straight World Cup as England number one but once again put in a jittery display here, making a hash of what should have been an easy take from Djed Spence early in the second half having been left annoyed by conceding yet another goal from a set-piece before he’d had a save of note to make.
Jake O’Brien 4
Hopefully that’s the last time that this promising centre-half had to play right-back as he toiled again in the position before being hooked, needing to be careful after being shown a yellow card for pulling back Mathys Tel, he then had another nibble at him soon afterwards.
Vitalii Mykolenko 5
Looked more solid than O’Brien on the other side, but he still spent most of the game being pegged back, offering little as an attacking outlet.
James Tarkowski 6
Everton’s most proactive defender when trying to deal with the seemingly constant waves of Spurs attacks, he was just about holding things together before Palhinha struck but was booked late on for catching Kevin Danso.
Michael Keane 5
Couldn’t get close enough to Palhinha for the goal but it looked like the Spurs scorer should have been Rohl’s man and the lack of pace from him and Tarkowski caused a few nervous moments.
Tim Iroegbunam 5
Was kept busy in the engine room as Spurs push forward, making a crucial block to deny Palhinha, but needed to form more of a protective shield and was unable to push the play forwards.
James Garner 5
Everton’s double Player of the Year but no England World Cup call-up, he offered a bit of fight that was lacking in too many of his team-mates, but his set-piece deliveries weren’t up to his usual standards and he had a spell at right-back after O’Brien went off.
Merlin Rohl 4
Needs to stay switched on as he left Palhinha unmarked – twice in a matter of seconds – for the goal and while he had a bit of a go again up the right wing and put himself about, he let his team down in a key moment.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 5
After reviving the up-and-under kick-off, he surprisingly went short with a first-minute corner rather than testing Spurs’ nerves early on and with the hosts often deep in Everton territory, he found himself on the periphery of proceedings unable to offer the kind of threat in the final third we’d seen so often earlier in the season.
Iliman Ndiaye 5
Encouragingly turned up on the right wing to win a first minute corner but then moved back to the left and other than a mazy dribble just after the half-hour mark, he was mostly chasing shadows on what has been a major end-of-season dip in form.
Thierno Barry 5
Couldn’t keep Palhinha’s effort out when on his own goal-line, Everton’s only change on the day, David Moyes gave him a chance to impress in the final game, but he hardly saw the ball and when he did, some of his touches were loose.
SUBS
Tyrique George (on 62 for Rohl) 7
For one promising moment, it looked like he had a chance to score or make an equaliser, but ultimately he couldn’t get the ball to drop where he wanted it and then brought the best out of Antonin Kinsky in stoppage time.
Harrison Armstrong (on 62 for O’Brien) 6
Thurst on in the heat of battle, hopefully he can be one of the Everton squad to kick on next season as he’s never looked out of place.
Beto (on 84 for Barry)
Late cameo to offer more muscle up front.
Seamus Coleman (on 84 for Iroegbunam)
Final Everton outing from the club captain
Charly Alcaraz (on 84 for Dewsbury-Hall)
Played the pass that led to George’s first chance.