Everton manager Sean Dyche has addressed the reasoning behind his decision to substitute striker Beto during the team’s third-round Carabao Cup exit to Southampton. The Toffees were eliminated after a 6-5 penalty shootout loss following a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
Abdoulaye Doucoure gave Everton the lead in the 20th minute, only for Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis to equalize with a header 12 minutes later. With injuries leaving Everton’s forward options limited, Beto was the only available striker. Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed the match due to illness, while Youssef Chermiti and Armando Broja were sidelined with injuries.
Beto was substituted in the 62nd minute for veteran Ashley Young, a move that left some Everton fans questioning Dyche’s decision, especially given the tight scoreline. Iliman Ndiaye was pushed forward to lead the attack, which raised concerns from sections of the fanbase.
Speaking to LiverpoolWorld after the match, Dyche explained his rationale: “We were just trying to adjust the team to go and win the game. We didn’t feel like we were getting the chances with the way things were going.” He added that Ndiaye offered a different type of attacking threat: “Ili is a different player, he wriggles, turns, and breaks the backline. We were trying to affect the game and win it.”
Dyche also emphasized the physical demands on Beto, noting the striker’s limited availability: “Currently, we have one fit striker, and it was unlikely he was going to play every minute of the game.”
The decision to bring on Young, who later missed a penalty in the shootout, was met with boos from some fans. Dyche acknowledged the reaction but remained supportive of the veteran: “Youngy is old enough and wise enough to know this is the way the industry is sometimes. He’s a fantastic professional, and I think everyone knows that.”
Dyche also addressed the fans’ response, saying: “The demand on myself is high, and I totally understand it. The fans have the right to say what they want to say. I’ve never questioned the fans here and certainly am not now. They’ve been amazing since I got here.”