Everton's latest defeat at the hands of Bournemouth has left fans reeling, and the player ratings from the match make for grim reading. The Toffees were expected to push for a top-seven finish this season, but their inconsistent form has raised serious questions about their ability to compete with the Premier League's best.
From the outset, it was clear that Everton were in for a long afternoon. Bournemouth started brightly, and their high-intensity press caused the visitors all sorts of problems. The Toffees struggled to string together more than a few passes, and their lack of cohesion was evident in the final third.
One player who came in for particular criticism was Jordan Pickford. The England goalkeeper has been a mainstay of the Everton team for several years, but his performance at the Vitality Stadium was nothing short of disastrous. He was at fault for at least one of Bournemouth's goals, and his distribution was erratic throughout.
Elsewhere, the likes of Michael Keane and Yerry Mina struggled to cope with the physicality of Bournemouth's attack. The Cherries' front two were a constant thorn in the side of the Everton defence, and their movement caused all sorts of problems. Mina, in particular, looked off the pace, and his lack of mobility was exposed time and again.
In midfield, Everton's usual suspects were once again missing in action. Tom Davies and Andre Gomes were expected to provide the creativity and drive from the centre of the park, but they were largely anonymous. Davies, in particular, had a shocker, and his lack of vision and passing range was evident throughout.
Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was a lone bright spark in an otherwise dismal display. The young English striker worked tirelessly throughout, and his hold-up play was excellent. However, he was feeding off scraps for much of the game, and his lack of support from the midfielders behind him made his task almost impossible.
As the final whistle blew, the Everton players trudged off the pitch looking dejected and demoralised. The defeat was a harsh reminder of the work that still needs to be done if the Toffees are to achieve their ambitions this season. For now, though, they will have to lick their wounds and regroup ahead of their next fixture.
The player ratings from the match at Bournemouth will make for difficult reading for Marco Silva and his coaching staff. The Toffees boss will need to go back to the drawing board and rethink his strategy if his team are to have any chance of turning their season around. With several key fixtures on the horizon, the pressure is mounting, and the next few weeks will be crucial in determining the direction of Everton's season.