'I don't think the players actually believe they're going to score': Jamie Carragher slams Everton's strike force after visitors drew another blank in defeat at Aston Villa

  • Everton failed to hit the back of the net again in a 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa 
  • Marco Silva's side have scored just one goal in their opening three league games 
  • New signing Alex Iwobi struck the woodwork as visitors drew blank
  • Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher criticised Everton's attacking showing

Jamie Carragher slammed the performance of Everton's attackers after their 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa - with Marco Silva's men now having netted just one goal in their opening three league games.

The Sky Sports pundit explained that the visitors never believed they would be able to score at Villa Park, despite the introductions of summer signings Moise Kean and Alex Iwobi.

The latter had cracked an effort against the woodwork in Everton's largely insipid display, which was soured further when fellow substitute Theo Walcott blazed over from close range late on.

Jamie Carragher slammed the performance of Everton's attackers after defeat at Aston Villa

Jamie Carragher slammed the performance of Everton's attackers after defeat at Aston Villa

Theo Walcott blazed over late on as Everton failed to add to their single goal scored this season

Theo Walcott blazed over late on as Everton failed to add to their single goal scored this season

When questioned about the causes behind the lack of impact from the visitors' attackers, Carragher said: 'One, maybe quality. But also I don't think the Everton players believe they're going to score. 


'Round the edge of the box so often, they were just passing it to each other. Too often they were passing responsibility. No one's really got that personality or character to go and make something happen.'

Fellow pundit Gary Neville also criticised Everton's lacklustre performance, and outlined his belief that Silva's men are lacking the mentality needed to hit the back of the net.  

He said: 'They should have taken their chances. I think they had good moments in the game, but then you've got to be ruthless. They just lack that ruthlessness and that's a problem they're going to have to get over. 

Fellow pundit Gary Neville highlighted Everton's lack of belief and goal scoring mentality

Fellow pundit Gary Neville highlighted Everton's lack of belief and goal scoring mentality

Everton had struck the woodwork through Alex Iwobi's strike but failed to break through

Everton had struck the woodwork through Alex Iwobi's strike but failed to break through 

£30million summer signing Moise Kean was introduced as a 62nd minute substitute in the loss

£30million summer signing Moise Kean was introduced as a 62nd minute substitute in the loss

'It chased them all through last season, and I don't know how you teach mentality to people to score goals. But on the pitch they've just got to go and believe more, that belief and mentality is just not quite there.'

£30million man Kean was once again forced to settle for a spot among the substitutes, but was finally thrown into the foray on 62 minutes. 

And in the wake of the former Juventus striker's goalless evening, Carragher believed the occasion had been poised for Kean to make a crucial impact. 

He added: 'It felt like the whole game was just waiting for Kean to come off the bench, because Evertonians have been crying out for a centre-forward since Romelu Lukaku left.'

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