Nathan Patterson endured a night to forget as Everton fell to a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
David Moyes named the right-back in his starting lineup against Enzo Maresca’s side on 26 April, as the Toffees aimed to respond after their loss to Manchester City.
Beto also struggled during the match, prompting the Scottish manager to make a flurry of changes around the 60-minute mark, substituting the striker along with Patterson and Jack Harrison.
Before being withdrawn, the Scotland international nearly gifted Chelsea a second goal early in the second half, but Everton managed to keep the scoreline respectable.
Patterson’s costly mistake almost punished by Chelsea
Patterson played an extremely poor backpass to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, according to Stuart Pearce.
The former Nottingham Forest defender criticized Patterson for presenting Nicolas Jackson with a golden opportunity to double his tally after scoring in the first half.
Patterson’s Premier League record 2024/25:
Appearances: 9
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Pearce credited Pickford for sparing Everton further embarrassment, reacting quickly to prevent Chelsea from adding another goal.
Speaking on talkSPORT (26 April, 13:44), Pearce said:
> “I think it was Patterson who played the final pass back to his goalkeeper, and it was woefully short. Pickford just about managed to rescue the situation.”
Everton face major rebuilding job this summer
Moyes will be hoping Dan Friedkin invests heavily in Everton’s squad during the summer transfer window to help drive the team forward.
Since replacing Sean Dyche, Moyes has done a commendable job at Goodison Park, but a stronger squad will likely be necessary if the club wants to challenge for a top-half finish.
At West Ham United, the 62-year-old showed his credentials by guiding the club to a UEFA Conference League triumph, and he will be eager to replicate that success on Merseyside.
Jake O’Brien has filled in at right-back under Moyes but is naturally a centre-back.
While Patterson had shown promise in previous seasons, injuries have hindered his development, and a summer departure wouldn’t come as a shock.
Meanwhile, Ashley Young appears to be nearing the end of his career, meaning Everton may need to recruit fresh options at full-back.
With Michael Keane’s contract nearing expiry, a defensive overhaul looks increasingly likely as the Toffees prepare for their move to Bramley-Moore Dock.
The Friedkin Group faces a major task in reinforcing the squad across all departments to provide Moyes with the tools to make Everton competitive once again.
‘Woefully short’ – talkSPORT pundit blasts Everton star after what he did v Chelsea
