Everton boss Marco Silva made a number of changes last night, and his team were beaten by Southampton.
Everton started with Bernard and Ademola Lookman on either flank against Southampton, as Silva named a much changed line-up in the Carabao Cup.
Silva’s plan to rest some of his regular starters backfired, as Everton crashed out of the competition on penalties.
But the Portuguese boss has defended his team selection, and insisted that both Bernard and Lookman played well.
“Everyone will agree with me that the wingers did well and Kieran tried,” he said. “He gave good things for us, he needs more. At the end if you see we repeat the same 11 more or less for our next match.”
Everton did have to bring Theo Walcott and Richarlison off the bench to try and rescue the game and they almost did.
Walcott scored a late leveller for the Toffees, but they failed to win on spot kicks.
Despite Silva’s protests, the defeat has led to him receiving plenty of criticism from Everton fans.
The Toffees have gone 23 years without winning any silverware, and there was a feeling at Goodison Park that they should have been taking the Carabao Cup seriously this term.
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