Everton Week in Review, Monday 19th October: Unbeaten Run Ends as Chelsea's Neto Brace Sinks the Toffees
Everton's long unbeaten start to the season finally came to an end as Chelsea won 2-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium thanks to a Pedro Neto double, according to BBC Sport and Royal Blue Mersey (BBC Sport) (Royal Blue Mersey). The game was overshadowed by a worrying head injury to Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who received lengthy on-pitch treatment before being substituted and, Xabi Alonso later confirmed, taken to hospital following a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite, as reported by ESPN and Liverpool Echo (ESPN). The Liverpool Echo's verdict was that the chaos of the transfer window had finally caught up with Everton (Liverpool Echo), while another Echo analysis suggested David Moyes may need to drop a key player for their own good after the display (Liverpool Echo).
Refereeing decisions dominated the post-match discussion, with Liverpool Echo and Read Everton reporting that Chelsea's Morgan Rogers escaped a red card despite already being on a yellow when he challenged James Garner, a view echoed by former referee Mike Dean (Liverpool Echo) (Read Everton). James Garner himself called for a change in how referees are assessed after the defeat, per Liverpool Echo (Liverpool Echo), while the Echo also noted that national media picked out concerns over Jordan Pickford and Thierno Barry's performances alongside the red card controversy (Liverpool Echo). BBC Sport's player ratings highlighted Neto as the standout, while Liverpool Echo rated Ainsley Maitland-Niles and a debutant among the poorest performers (BBC Sport) (Liverpool Echo).
Before the Chelsea game, Everton had drawn 2-2 away at Hull City, coming from behind to lead before being pegged back, as described by The Sun (The Sun). Liverpool Echo's tactical analysis pointed to eight big chances created at Hull as proof of Everton's attacking threat, even as David Moyes was said to be angry with his defence (Liverpool Echo), and pundit Michael Ball argued the Branthwaite situation needed addressing to turn draws into wins (Liverpool Echo). Captain James Tarkowski spoke after the Hull draw about Thierno Barry's form and the club's European hopes, as well as the ongoing sale of Everton, according to Liverpool Echo (Liverpool Echo). Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also said the squad were happy with their unbeaten start at that stage but wanted to convert draws into victories, per Royal Blue Mersey (Royal Blue Mersey).
Ownership uncertainty continued to swirl around the club. The Friedkin Group sent a clear message over the sale process, according to Liverpool Echo's Everton jury (Liverpool Echo), and Read Everton examined what has changed since the Friedkins promised a "long-term vision" on taking over in December 2024 (Read Everton). Simon Jordan publicly rejected Moyes's suggestion that the summer transfer business hinted TFG were preparing to sell (Read Everton), while Read Everton's Boyland column suggested Moyes's own future may ultimately be decided by the club's next owners (Read Everton). Talksport's Alan Brazil claimed he had heard that Alisher Usmanov could be interested in investing at Everton (talkSPORT), and there was also reported interest from Celtic in David Moyes should his contract situation remain unresolved, per Royal Blue Mersey (Royal Blue Mersey). Amid all this, Moyes promised "business as usual" and urged fans to get behind the team against Chelsea, according to Read Everton (Read Everton).
On the injury front, Vitalii Mykolenko was given a chance of returning for the Chelsea game after responding well to treatment, while Merlin Rohl and Jacob Norgaard were also being monitored, Moyes told reporters via Read Everton and Sports Mole (Read Everton) (Sports Mole). Liverpool Echo and EvertonFC.com also covered Moyes's team news and fitness updates ahead of the fixture (Liverpool Echo) (EvertonFC.com).
In transfer news, Read Everton and TeamTalk reported Everton are tracking Dinamo Zagreb striker Dion Beljo, with Manchester United and Tottenham also said to have checked on him (Read Everton), while TeamTalk separately claimed two striker targets have been shortlisted for January as Moyes looks to strengthen his options (TeamTalk). Harrison Armstrong thanked supporters for their role in a "special" U-turn that kept him at Everton rather than joining Nottingham Forest, per Liverpool Echo (Liverpool Echo) (Royal Blue Mersey).
Away from the pitch, Everton Women goalkeeper Rylee Foster gave an exclusive interview to Liverpool Echo about her remarkable journey back to football after a car crash she says should have killed her, five years before making her club debut (Liverpool Echo). Everton Women were also previewed ahead of a trip to London City Lionesses in the WSL, looking for their first away points of the season under Phelan, according to Royal Blue Mersey (Royal Blue Mersey). Merlin Rohl spoke to Liverpool Echo about settling into life in Aigburth, his love of Lark Lane, and his new photography book featuring Everton supporters on its cover (Liverpool Echo) (Liverpool Echo) (Liverpool Echo).
In other club news, former youth coach Paul Tait, who helped develop Anthony Gordon and Ross Barkley, has returned to football with Chester after dropping down the divisions, Liverpool Echo reported (Liverpool Echo). Everton's Under-21s came from behind to beat Middlesbrough, per the club's official site (EvertonFC.com), though the Under-18s lost away to Stoke City, according to ToffeeWeb (ToffeeWeb), and young defender Luca Davis joined Morecambe on a short-term loan (ToffeeWeb). BBC Sport also looked back at Duncan Ferguson's expected new role at Glentoran (BBC Sport).
This round-up is written with the help of AI, using only the day's headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.