It hasn’t been long since Donny van de Beek left Manchester United and Dele Alli left Tottenham for Everton because the duo will be feeling the heat already after Tuesday’s result.
Whilst Van de Beek joined the Toffees on a loan deal from Man United, it was a straight-up transfer from Spurs to Goodison Park for Alli.
And last night, they had debuts to forget, as Frank Lampard’s side suffered a morale-sapping 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United.
Kris Boyd claimed that the duo ‘didn’t really have an impact’ from the bench, as he told Soccer Special on Sky Sports (08/02/22 at 9:55 pm).
Added with that, the former Scotland striker stated in a blunt fashion that he is ‘not sure’ Alli or Van de Beek are the type of players you want to have in a relegation dogfight because he thinks Everton are in trouble.
“Dele came on, he didn’t really have an impact,” said Boyd. “Van de Beek, the exact same. We mentioned those two because they were the two big signings of the window.
“But, for me, looking at it. They are two players that, when you are on top of a game, they can make a difference.
“But when you are in a relegation battle, then I am not too sure. Frank Lampard will be worried because that’s as poor as I have seen Everton.”
Alli was introduced into the action pretty much straight away when Demarai Gray was forced off injured after 25 minutes.
When Van de Beek came on, it was probably in a more surprising fashion because, with one substitute left and Everton needing a goal, Lampard didn’t turn to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The first two subs were forced, but after the hour mark, the Everton boss made a like-for-like replacement with Andre Gomes making way for the Man United loanee.
It didn’t make a jot of difference with an aggressive, in-your-face and determined Newcastle side securing a much-needed three points.
That leaves the Merseyside club three points from safety ahead of their showdown against Leeds at the weekend.
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