Paul Merson Completely Destroys Everton Young Star Jake O’Brien After His Mistakes Cost Everton Two Points in 2-2 Crystal Palace Draw
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson did not hold back as he tore into Everton defender Jake O’Brien following the Toffees’ disappointing 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
Everton twice led through James Tarkowski’s early header and Beto’s strike shortly after half-time, but Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta struck back for Palace, with the latter’s 77th-minute equaliser leaving the visitors frustrated.
Merson, analysing the game post-match, singled out young Irish centre-back O’Brien for heavy criticism, claiming his errors directly contributed to Everton dropping two vital points in their push for European qualification.“He’s a young lad with potential, but you can’t make those mistakes at this level,” Merson said. “Schoolboy errors.
He lost his man, gave away cheap possession, and it cost Everton dearly. That’s two points thrown away because of individual lapses.”O’Brien, who has impressed at times this season with his aerial ability and attacking contributions from the back, endured a difficult afternoon against Palace’s lively attackers. The 24-year-old was accused of losing concentration during key moments in the build-up to both Palace goals, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities that have plagued Everton in recent weeks.Merson continued his no-nonsense assessment: “Everton are fighting for every point and every position. Young players like O’Brien need to step up now.
You can’t afford to be gifting teams like Palace opportunities like that if you want to finish in the top half or challenge for Europe.”While some Everton fans defended O’Brien, citing the team’s overall performance and the intensity of the Premier League, the public dressing-down from Merson has intensified scrutiny on the Republic of Ireland international. Manager David Moyes will be looking for a strong response from his squad as the season nears its climax.The draw leaves Everton six points off the European places with limited games remaining, making every dropped point even more painful. O’Brien will now face the challenge of bouncing back quickly to silence his critics.