Everton urged to drop Brennan Johnson after disappointing Hull City display
Everton extended their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 season to eight matches after battling to a 2-2 draw against newly promoted Hull City at the KCOM Stadium.
Although David Moyes’ side were far from convincing throughout the encounter, they managed to leave Yorkshire with a point. Goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry helped the Toffees avoid defeat, but Mohammed Belloumi’s late strike denied them the opportunity to secure all three points.
While maintaining their unbeaten record will provide some encouragement, the result also exposed several weaknesses within Everton’s squad, with a number of players struggling to perform at the expected level.
Everton’s defensive problems exposed against Hull City
Moyes made a notable selection decision before the match by bringing Michael Keane into the starting line-up alongside captain James Tarkowski.
The 33-year-old defender was handed his first start in almost a month, but his performance did little to justify the manager’s decision.
Keane struggled to influence proceedings defensively, failing to record an interception and losing both of the two tackles he attempted against Hull.
However, the centre-back was not the only Everton defender who endured a difficult afternoon, as Ainsley Maitland-Niles also struggled to produce a convincing display.
The former Arsenal player did contribute offensively by providing the assist for Dewsbury-Hall’s goal, but his defensive shortcomings proved costly for the visitors.
Maitland-Niles made an error that allowed Hull to find the net, a mistake that ultimately contributed to Everton dropping two valuable points.
The right-back also won only half of his duels and was beaten by opposition attackers on two occasions, further highlighting his difficulties throughout the contest.
### Why Moyes must drop Brennan Johnson after his 4/10 performance
Following another Premier League draw, Moyes faces the challenge of addressing his team’s shortcomings on the training ground if Everton are to achieve their ambitions this season.
The Merseyside club have drawn four of their opening six league matches, raising questions about their ability to turn competitive performances into victories.
Although the team have managed to remain unbeaten, some of the manager’s selection decisions are also coming under scrutiny, particularly his continued reliance on Brennan Johnson.
The Wales international joined Everton from Crystal Palace during the summer transfer window, but he has struggled to make the desired impact since arriving at the club.
Despite his disappointing performances, Johnson has started each of Everton’s last four Premier League fixtures, a decision that is increasingly difficult to defend given his recent contributions.
His display against Hull offered further evidence of his struggles, with the attacker failing to make a meaningful difference during his 66 minutes on the pitch.
Johnson managed just one shot, which failed to hit the target, while creating only a single opportunity for his teammates. He also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, limiting Everton’s attacking threat in the final third.
### Brennan Johnson’s statistics against Hull City
| Statistic          | Record |
| ——————- | —— |
| Minutes played     | 66    |
| Touches            | 27    |
| Pass accuracy      | 77%   |
| Chances created    | 1     |
| Shots on target    | 0     |
| Successful dribbles | 0Â Â Â Â Â |
| Cross success      | 33%   |
| Times dribbled past | 2Â Â Â Â Â |
| Duels lost         | 100%  |
The statistics paint a worrying picture of Johnson’s contribution. Only a third of his attempted crosses found a teammate, while his defensive work also left plenty to be desired after Hull players beat him in individual situations twice.
Perhaps even more concerning was his inability to win any of the duels he contested, underlining the difficulties he experienced throughout the match.
Johnson recorded just 27 touches during his time on the pitch, fewer than goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who registered 45.
### Moyes faces a major decision ahead of Everton’s next match
Johnson’s disappointing performance was reflected in his match rating, with the forward receiving just 4/10 following the draw.
Only Maitland-Niles received a lower rating among Everton’s players, highlighting the extent of the Welshman’s struggles against the newly promoted side.
Moyes must now consider whether continuing to select Johnson in the starting line-up is the right decision, especially with Everton needing greater attacking quality to convert draws into victories.
The former Nottingham Forest attacker has yet to demonstrate the consistency required to establish himself as a reliable Premier League performer at Everton.
While the manager may still believe Johnson can improve, his recent displays suggest that a spell on the bench could be necessary.
With Everton determined to maintain their unbeaten start and build momentum in the coming weeks, Moyes may need to make difficult selection decisions. Dropping Johnson for the next match could give the forward an opportunity to regain his confidence while allowing another player to stake a claim for a regular starting position.