David Moyes built much of his reputation in English football on maximising limited resources, forging competitive teams and, at his best, staying ahead of tactical trends. During his first spell at Everton, he was arguably among the pioneers of using full-backs as key attacking outlets in the Premier League. Under his guidance, players such as Leighton Baines and later Seamus Coleman became central to Everton’s attacking identity, providing width, creativity and a consistent goal threat from wide defensive positions.
Those teams were often more progressive than Moyes was given credit for. Baines, in particular, developed into one of the league’s most complete full-backs, while Coleman’s relentless energy and timing of runs transformed Everton into a fluid, well-balanced side capable of troubling the division’s elite. A decade on, however, that legacy feels distant. The modern Everton side, now again under Moyes’ stewardship, is grappling with an issue that cuts to the heart of his earlier success: the lack of attacking quality from full-back areas.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea offered the clearest illustration yet of the problem. Everton arrived at Stamford Bridge in confident mood. Wins at Old Trafford and the Vitality Stadium had ended long-standing away-day droughts, while a convincing 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Hill Dickinson Stadium had further boosted belief. Chelsea, by contrast, were winless in four matches across all competitions, and Everton knew that another positive result could have lifted them as high as fourth place in the Premier League.
Instead, the afternoon ended in frustration. Everton’s search for a first league win at Stamford Bridge since 1994 continues, and the defeat underlined structural weaknesses that have been evident for some time.
The match took an early turn when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, a central figure in Everton’s recent upturn in form, was forced off injured within the opening 15 minutes. Losing their most influential midfielder might have been expected to derail Everton’s rhythm. Yet it was not the absence of creativity in midfield that proved decisive, but rather the vulnerability on the flanks.
On the left side, Vitalii Mykolenko has now been a regular Premier League starter for more than three seasons. While dependable defensively in spells, his limitations in the attacking phase have become increasingly apparent. Everton’s build-up often stalls on his side, and opposition teams appear comfortable allowing him space, safe in the knowledge that he poses little threat in the final third.
Against Chelsea, Mykolenko endured a particularly difficult afternoon. For the opening goal, he failed to track Cole Palmer’s run, allowing the Chelsea attacker the freedom to finish. Later, he struggled to cope with Pedro Neto’s quick footwork and acceleration, which led to Malo Gusto’s decisive contribution for the second goal. Those moments proved costly in a match that Everton had entered with genuine optimism
There were, to his credit, signs of intent from Mykolenko as Everton attempted to respond. He pushed forward more frequently, overlapping and making runs beyond Jack Grealish and later Iliman Ndiaye. One such surge into the Chelsea penalty area resulted in a cut-back to Carlos Alcaraz, whose effort was blocked by Trevoh Chalobah. Yet these moments were exceptions rather than the rule.
The broader issue is that Everton’s opponents are largely untroubled by Mykolenko’s presence in advanced areas. His delivery lacks consistency and penetration, and his output tells its own story: just two Premier League assists in 123 appearances. In an era where full-backs are often playmakers, that return highlights the imbalance in Everton’s attacking structure.
The problems are not confined to the left side. Everton’s long-running failure to recruit a specialist right-back has become a source of frustration among supporters. The club came close to addressing the issue in the summer, with Kenny Tete reportedly lined up as their first signing before he opted to extend his stay at Fulham. That setback, however, was not followed by an adequate alternative, leaving Everton once again short in a key position.
Jake O’Brien has frequently been asked to fill the void, and his performances have reflected both his professionalism and Moyes’ ability to adapt. O’Brien’s willingness to run forward and his physical presence have provided some balance, but he is not a natural right-back. Standing at six-foot-six and naturally a central defender, his limitations in crossing and combination play are understandable.
O’Brien’s strengths are better suited to the heart of defence, as demonstrated by his impressive display at centre-back away to Bournemouth earlier this month. Asking him to operate as a full-back on a regular basis places unrealistic demands on both player and system. While there may be occasions when such a solution is necessary, it is not a sustainable long-term approach.
For Moyes, the irony is striking. A manager once lauded for maximising the attacking potential of his full-backs now finds his team lagging behind rivals in precisely that department. Modern Premier League football places enormous emphasis on width, overloads and delivery from deep areas, and Everton are currently struggling to keep pace.
The defeat at Chelsea does not define Everton’s season, nor does it erase the progress made in recent weeks. However, it does reinforce a growing concern that, without significant improvement or recruitment in the full-back positions, Everton’s ceiling will remain limited. As Moyes looks to build momentum and re-establish Everton as a competitive force, addressing the imbalance on the flanks may prove one of his most pressing challenges.
