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Everton star should be handing in a transfer request after Norgaard display

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Published Oct 18, 2026, 8:15 AM GMT+1

Angus is an experienced football writer at Football FanCast, specialising in analytical reporting, opinion and feature writing, with particular expertise in Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

A journalist since graduating from Southampton Solent University in 2022, Angus has built extensive experience across the football media industry. Before joining Football FanCast, he led VAVEL's Brighton & Hove Albion department, developing experience in club-specific reporting and editorial leadership.

Angus joined Football FanCast through Snack Media's (now Valnet) academy and has since become one of the site's longest-serving writers, progressing into the Opinions and Features team. During his time with Football FanCast, he has produced thousands of articles across a broad range of Premier League clubs and stories.

His work combines analytical reporting, informed opinion and detailed feature writing, with a particular focus on understanding the factors behind performances, transfers and major developments rather than simply reporting the headline. His strongest areas of expertise are Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, although his extensive Premier League coverage has given him a broad understanding of the English top flight.

Angus brings readers experienced, research-led football analysis and considered opinion, using his years of covering the Premier League to provide context, assess players and transfers, and explain what the latest developments mean for clubs and their ambitions.

To be fair, Everton couldn't have expected to keep their unbeaten record running forever in the Premier League, but this will matter not to David Moyes after a poor performacne against Chelsea.

Unbeaten across their opening six games of the season, Everton had no response to Chelsea's second-half double, withering instead of rallying.

The Merseysiders need more inspiration in attack, but Moyes isn't getting his team selection right at the moment, with too many starters flattering to deceive against Xabi Alonso's side.

Everton player ratings vs Chelsea

There goes Everton's unbeaten start to the season - and in limp fashion at that. Chelsea boast a wealth of attacking quality, but there's no question that the hosts were far too timid in fighting for an equaliser after Pedro Neto scored right after the break.

Everton Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Player

Rating

(GK) Jordan Pickford	4/10
(RB) Ainsley Maitland-Niles	3/10
(CB) Jarrad Branthwaite	6/10
(CB) James Tarkowski	7/10
(LB) Vitalii Mykolenko	6/10
(CM) James Garner	6/10
(CM) Harrison Armstrong	7/10
(RW) Merlin Rohl	6/10
(AM) Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall	5/10
(LW) Jack Grealish	6/10
(ST) Thierno Barry	4/10

Moyes might have succeeded in creating an industrious, well-oiled outfit, but there's no question that Everton lack flair and imagination in attack, too often reliant on the dancing feet of Jack Grealish.

The forwards were blunt in front of goal, but the defenders were the major culprits against a frightening Chelsea frontline who didn't even enjoy their most fluent game under Xabi Alonso.

This is on Moyes, but Everton's substitutes also failed to inspire any kind of second-half turnaround. Brennan Johnson flattered to deceive once again, and Christian Norgaard never should have been introduced for his Everton debut.

How Norgaard played vs Chelsea

Norgaard never played more than a bit-part role for Arsenal, and it looks like he could suffer a similar fate for Everton, if that disastrous debut is anything to go by.

An experienced Premier League star, the Dane was immense for Brentford, a crisp passer and combative presence at the heart of the engine room. It looks like he's a way away from that level, earning for himself a yellow card when unleashed in the second half, also inexplicably stifling a three-on-one Evertonian attack.

Welcomed for his wealth of Premier League experience, Norgaard will need several more weeks to be brought up to speed, but he certainly has the potential to play a significant part in this campaign for Everton.

That said, Norgaard shouldn't have started. Why Moyes started him is a touch confusing, especially when considering their was a more appropriate alternative sat on the bench.

Everton star must already want a transfer request

Everton left a lot to be desired during the summer transfer window, but Moyes needs to make better use of the players welcomed, with Hayden Hackney bound to be frustrated by the fringe part he has been assigned thus far in the Premier League.

Moyes' decision to hand Norgaard minutes in the second half was baffling. He's still not fit, and it proved a head-hanging debut for the 32-year-old. Considering Hayden Hackney sat through the outing as an unused substitute, questions must be asked.

Signed from Middlesbrough for more than £16m, Hackney chose Everton despite the vested interests of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, but he has averaged 26 minutes per game thus far, this time kept on the bench despite the Toffees' need for inspiration after the interval.

Hackney must be bemused as to why he isn't playing. Not since the opening day of the Premier League has the former England U21 international started a game. He is one of the most talented progressive passers in the country, but Moyes' determination to keep him out of the starting line-up is bound to convince him that he made the wrong career decision when picking Merseyside during the summer.

Analyst Tactically Matt said that Moyes' decision to unleash Norgaard over Hackney made "little to no sense", and there's no question that the 2025/26 Championship Player of the Season will angle for change if the manager continues to overlook him.

Perhaps Hackney's ball-playing expansiveness runs counter to the pragmatism so deeply rooted in Moyes' tactical set-up.

If that's the case, why was he signed? If Hackney doesn't start playing a more prominent role in the Premier League, this will go sour rather quickly.

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