Everton bowed out of the Carabao Cup in a penalty shootout defeat to Southampton.

The visitors found themselves ahead when Liverpool loanee Danny Ings was given time to pick out the bottom corner on the stroke of half time.

A frustrating second half followed in which the Blues struggled to find the equaliser before substitute Theo Walcott drew them level in the 85th minute.

With neither side finding a winner in normal time, the tie went to penalties with misses from Richarlison and Walcott handing victory to the Saints.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Same old story in the cup

 

Evertonians streaming out of Goodison Park will have been frustrated by what they witnessed.

As opportunities go, they will feel this was a massive one passed up.

A home tie against Southampton is one they should be winning, especially with the quality of the side that the Blues put out and the chances they created.

The prospect of further progress in the form of a trip to Leicester City as a reward for their third round exploits should have been an extra incentive.

Winning that tie would have given Marco Silva’s side a superb opportunity of winning this competition for the first time in the club’s 140-year history.

Instead, they will now have to wait until the FA Cup rolls around in January for their second, and final, chance at potential cup glory this season.

Many will be questioning why Everton have wasted such a glorious opportunity.

Bernard’s watch

 

Richarlison’s flying start has already asserted his position as Everton’s favourite Brazilian, but compatriot Bernard may soon be vying for that title.

Signed on a free transfer this summer, the former Shakhtar Donetsk winger is already looking like being an extremely smart piece of business.

After a starring cameo in the win over Fulham, he was the star man in this game. Quick, intelligent and full of Samba style, he is exactly the kind of player that fans can love.

Every time he got on the ball in this game he created something, tormenting Cedric Soares for the entire first half before moving to the right in the second.

This display will have given Marco Silva plenty to think about. Finding a way to fit him into his starting 11 is going to be a problem sooner rather than later.

Lookman ready to shine again

 

Most around Everton will have been wondering why they bothered to keep Ademola Lookman this summer.

After fighting off advances from RB Leipzig, the youngster has barely featured under Silva. Doubts remain about whether he actually wants to be at the club.

Those in charge will feel vindicated at rejecting every bid from the Bundesliga outfit after Lookman’s hour-long cameo against Southampton.

Although initially struggling to get into the game, Lookman shone thereafter.

His pace and creativity caused numerous problems, and were it not for Bernard’s impressive display, he would have had a fair claim as Everton’s man of the match.

This version of Lookman was more akin to the one that shone on loan in Leipzig last season. Everton will be hoping this display is the kickstart his time at Goodison requires.

Blues’ defensive woes continue

 

For all the positive attacking play that Silva has brought to Everton, he is yet to fix their problems at the back.

A clean sheet in the win over Fulham had raised hopes that this side was about to turn a road defensively. Instead, the same old problems returned to haunt them.

Everton should have won this game. They had the best chances and were the better side for it.

Yet, poor defending allowed Danny Ings to strike before the break and leave the Blues chasing the game in the second half.

Ultimately it was penalties that saw them knocked out but it should never have gotten to that point.

This game should have been put to bed before that and the same defensive failings cost them again.

Until Silva can find a way to make this Everton side stop giving away cheap goals they will continue to struggle, regardless of the opposition.