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“‘PHENOMENAL!’ – Paul Merson in shock after witnessing Everton player’s stunning moment despite 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth
Paul Merson was left impressed by Carlos Alcaraz despite Everton’s FA Cup exit following their 2-0 loss to Bournemouth.
Everton’s performance was disappointing, as they deservedly lost to Bournemouth at Goodison Park on Saturday (8 February). The goals came from individual mistakes, and the Toffees failed to create any real attacking threat when moving forward.
Alcaraz, who joined Everton on deadline day, was brought on as a second-half substitute and made an immediate impact, leaving Merson in awe of one particular moment.
Paul Merson amazed by Alcaraz’s impact
From the moment Alcaraz entered the game, Everton’s midfield saw a noticeable improvement in quality, which didn’t go unnoticed. Merson was quick to point out the difference he made, especially when Alcaraz hit the crossbar with a free-kick late in the match.
Speaking on Sky Sports News (8 February, 4:31pm), Merson said: “Alcaraz does some brilliant play on the halfway line. He goes through two players, gets to the edge of the box, and gets brought down. He steps up to take the free-kick and bends it around the wall. The keeper just stands there as the ball hits the post. It’s phenomenal. In the few minutes since he’s come on, this kid looks very good.”
Despite the defeat, Alcaraz’s performance provided some hope for the future, and he’ll likely be in contention for a starting spot in Everton’s upcoming clash with Liverpool.
Everton crash out of the FA Cup
While Everton certainly didn’t deserve to advance to the next round of the FA Cup, the defeat could have its silver lining.
With the club now out of the cup, they can focus all their attention on securing Premier League survival. Given their lack of squad depth, a cup run would have only hindered their fight to avoid relegation. This result also emphasizes the need for a significant summer transfer window to strengthen the squad.
Everton can now concentrate fully on staying out of the relegation zone, sitting nine points above the drop with a game in hand.
