David Moyes reveals fear over Carlos Alcaraz fitness and substitution dilemma before Everton goal

The Everton manager reacts after the Premier League clash at Palace

David Moyes was preparing to take Charly Alcaraz off when the 22-year-old struck beyond Dean Henderson.

The Blues boss feared the match winner was tiring and showing signs of cramp. Despite a depleted bench, and the midfielder’s influence on a game he had excelled in, he was ready to make a change.

But as he went through his limited options the ball fell to the loanee’s feet inside the box and he lashed the away end into delirium.

It was a huge moment for the deadline day arrival from Flamengo and a deserved one. Asked to sit in a three man central midfield he had been integral to Everton posing a threat that kept Crystal Palace from seizing control of the game. It was Alcaraz who pounced on a Palace mistake to create Beto’s opener. It was fitting that, on his first start at his new club, he delivered the killer blow.

Delighted with his display, Moyes said after the game: “We played him today and I think he did great for us and he got the goal. I thought he started to tire midway through the second half and he started to look as though he was getting cramp.

“It was lucky I didn’t take him off because he got the goal and after that we decided to change. But I am really pleased he has had a good start because we're so short of players, we're so short of players at the moment and we just can't afford any more injuries or we're really struggling then.”