Eleven combined Premier League goals from your two starting strikers by March is a problem. For Everton, it is the defining problem of their season — and the question of whether David Moyes can get more from Thierno Barry and Beto, or whether the club finds a replacement in the summer, carries direct implications for their relegation odds, their match betting profile and the summer transfer market.
What Jermaine Beckford Said
Former Everton striker Jermaine Beckford offered the clearest technical analysis of why Barry and Beto are underperforming, speaking to the Liverpool Echo. His comparison with Leeds United’s strikers — Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha — is specific and worth taking seriously:
“The difference between the Leeds pair and what Thierno Barry and Beto are doing at Everton is the finishing position. When they’ve been involved in the build-up play and move the ball out wide, then what do they do? The two boys at Leeds, they’re bombing straight for the box. You look at the two boys at the Toffees — they’re ‘yeah, maybe, we might get there a little bit, sometimes but not all the time.'”
The observation is not about pace, physicality or technical quality — Beckford explicitly notes that all four players are physically similar. It is about box-arrival habits. A striker who drifts or hesitates on the final run into the box occupies a defender’s attention without threatening the goal. A striker who bombs directly toward the six-yard area on every relevant ball forces the defence to commit, creates second-ball opportunities, and finishes more chances simply by being in the right place at the right time.
Moyes himself has been direct about his dissatisfaction:
“I don’t think the numbers you’re talking about are the numbers I want. I want centre-forwards scoring far more goals.”
Eleven goals combined between two first-choice strikers by the end of February is a return that would have most managers exploring alternatives in January. Moyes did not make a striker signing in the winter window — a decision that is now visibly costing Everton in the league table.
The Summer Transfer Picture
Everton’s scouting has already identified potential solutions for the summer. Three names have emerged:
Alexander Sørloth (Atletico Madrid): The Norwegian has been prolific in La Liga this season after his move from Villarreal. Physically dominant, strong in the air, and technically more complete than Barry. He turns 31 in the summer, which explains some scepticism — Moyes appears to be moving away from developmental strikers and toward proven, experienced operators.
Jonathan David (Juventus): The Canadian international is one of the most consistent goal scorers in European football over the past four seasons. His contract situation at Juventus has attracted widespread interest; his composure in the box is exactly what Everton are currently missing. Would represent a significant step up in quality and almost certainly in wage demands.
Raúl Jiménez (Fulham): The most experienced of the three targets, Jiménez brings Premier League-proven quality and physical presence. At 34, he is not a long-term solution, but his ability to lead the line, hold up play and score in tight fixtures is the profile Moyes needs.
The common thread, as the source notes: all three are experienced. Moyes is not looking for another project striker. He wants results next season, and his striker recruitment will reflect that.
What This Means for Betting
Everton Match Betting — Under 2.5 Goals
The most direct betting implication of Everton’s striker underperformance is their goals profile. A team with strikers who average fewer than six goals each by March is not generating attacking threat at a rate that produces high-scoring matches. Everton’s games have trended toward lower-scoring outcomes — Under 2.5 goals on Everton fixtures, particularly away from home, is a structurally supported market this season.
Check Everton’s current goals-per-game average before placing: if they are sitting below 1.2 goals scored per match, the Under is the natural lean across most fixture types.
Relegation Odds
Eleven combined striker goals in a relegation-threatened side is a relegation-level output. Whether Everton survive or not depends on the fixtures remaining and how their total goals tally compares to the bottom three — but the striker problem is a genuine risk factor that should be reflected in their survival odds.
Check current Everton relegation odds with your bookmaker. If the market has not fully priced in the striker deficiency relative to their remaining fixture list, there may be value on the relevant outcomes.
Leeds United as Beneficiaries
Beckford’s comparison inadvertently highlights Calvert-Lewin’s form at Leeds. DCL — sold by Everton last summer — is performing the box-arrival runs at Leeds that he was criticised for not making consistently at Goodison. If his goals and assist numbers are tracking above market expectations at Leeds, their outright finishing position odds deserve attention.
Summer Transfer Market Betting
Several major bookmakers offer markets on summer transfer destinations for high-profile players. Jonathan David specifically has been one of the most consistently linked names in European football for two windows. If Everton are genuine contenders for his signature and his Juventus situation continues to be unresolved, his next club market — where available — is worth monitoring.
The Bigger Picture: Moyes Under Pressure
Moyes’ current Everton contract expires next summer. His comments about striker output are those of a manager frustrated with resources, not one who has lost the dressing room — but the combination of a mid-table or lower finish, no January striker, and a goal return this poor will generate pressure on both him and the board regardless of goodwill from the fanbase.
For betting purposes, a managerial change during the season at Everton — while not the base case — would represent a meaningful shift in their match betting profile. Manager changes typically produce a short-term performance bump (the “new manager effect”) that can be exploited in their first two or three home matches. Keep it on the radar.
Sources: Liverpool Echo / Jermaine Beckford interview; David Moyes press conference quotes, March 2026. Odds indicative — verify with your bookmaker before placing.