Everton are scared to play, says Koeman

Everton have much to do if they are to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League after Apollon Limassol stunned Goodison Park by equalising late on, just moments after they had a player sent off.

Ronald Koeman had fielded a strong side with as many as nine players in line to start against Burnley on Sunday. The selection reflected Everton’s position in Group E after their 3-0 trouncing in Italy two weeks ago against Atalanta.

Koeman really could not afford to drop points here, especially with two fixtures against Lyon to follow. “The team is struggling,” Koeman admitted after Hector Yuste headed past Jordan Pickford with two minutes left. “The players are playing under the level they can bring.”

Koeman believes Everton are “scared to play football”, conceding he is concerned about the impact of Apollon’s equaliser on wider confidence. The Cypriots were a side Everton should really be beating. To claim their most recognisable faces as familiar would be an overstatement. Brazilian midfielder Allan is on loan from Liverpool having never featured in a first-team game, while Valentin Roberge, who was eventually sent off – played 10 games for Sunderland across two and a half years.

Their initial advantage was established because of an elementary mistake by Ashley Williams, whose loose pass allowed Adrian Sardinero to score.

Everton’s equaliser came from an even more grotesque error, this one involving Yuste. His back-pass did not find goalkeeper Bruno Vale and Wayne Rooney was there to tap in.

Everton dominated the second half and scored through Nikola Vlasic, but switched off and an unchallenged Yuste was able to secure a draw from a free-kick.

Everton