---
title: "Everton handed reality check after Chelsea defeat as Moyes’ decisions questioned"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/everton-chelsea-reality-check-david-moyes-decisions/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2026-10-19T10:30:00Z"
modified: "2026-10-19T10:30:00Z"
---

# Everton handed reality check after Chelsea defeat as Moyes’ decisions questioned

[**Everton**](https://readeverton.com/) **suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season against Chelsea on Saturday, but the 2-0 loss also provided a reminder of the limitations David Moyes is working with.**

The Blues had gone unbeaten through their opening six league matches before Pedro Neto’s second-half double ended that run at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Everton had competed well before the interval, but Neto struck within a minute of the restart, and Moyes’ side struggled to trouble Chelsea once they fell behind.

Everton correspondent [Patrick Boyland](https://x.com/Paddy_Boyland/status/2112091290493968565) has offered some useful perspective on the defeat, pointing to the size of the squad available to Moyes. Boyland noted that Everton have the Premier League’s smallest squad and argued that “bumps in the road” are inevitable, describing that lack of depth as a legacy of the summer transfer window.

## Everton’s small squad offers context – but not an excuse

Boyland also made clear that Saturday was not simply about resources. He pointed to “self-inflicted wounds” against Chelsea, both in Everton’s approach and their use of the bench, adding that they were too easy to keep at arm’s length after Neto’s opener.

There were options available to Moyes. Tyrique George replaced Ainsley Maitland-Niles after 55 minutes, but Brennan Johnson and Christian Norgaard were not introduced until the 85th. Tyler Dibling, Hayden Hackney and Charly Alcaraz were among those left unused as Everton searched for a route back into the game.

The wider picture is still worth keeping in context. Everton have 10 points from seven Premier League matches, and Chelsea inflicted their first defeat. A small squad will inevitably leave Moyes with less room to manoeuvre than many of his counterparts as the season develops.

Saturday, though, showed that the two issues can coexist. Everton’s lack of depth leaves little margin for error, but when games begin to turn against them, Moyes will also need to extract more from the options he does have.

***For all the latest Everton news, analysis and updates, visit our** [**Everton news page**](https://readeverton.com/news/)**.***