Everton’s manager Rafael Benitez lamented a lack of threat on the counter-attack as Everton’s injury and form woes worsened at Manchester City. The Toffees not only slipped to their fourth defeat in their last five matches, but they were also totally outclassed in the process. Just one shot on target all game highlighted the ineptness of their performance.
Benitez has now picked up just one win in his last nine Premier League matches, which was at home against strugglers Norwich. Despite the level of opposition at the Etihad, the Spanish manager wasn’t happy to accept the manner of the defeat. He told Sky Sports: “I don’t like to lose against anyone. It doesn’t matter the name of the team or the level of the team. “I think that in this kind of game you have to be a threat in the counter-attack.
We had our chances in the counterattack without creating too much. “And it was a question of time that you are defending and you will make a mistake. “I think we tried and we had two or three situations in the first half that we didn’t do well in the counter-attack and it was just defending and normally you have to just lose these games. “We changed a bit after the second goal, to change against City is not easy. It is a pity because the team was training well.
“It is difficult when you’re not winning. But I think we were close in a lot of games, it’s about how the team is reacting. “We know the injured players will be a problem. We have to go to January and try and win some games. And we are convinced that in the second half of the season, with players coming back, we will be stronger.” Everton were already without first-teamers Dominic Calvert Lewin, Tom Davies, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Andres Gomes, Mason Holgate, and Yerry Mina.