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Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville slam Abdoulaye Doucoure incident during Everton v Burnley
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were critical of Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure at half-time of their clash with Burnley on Monday night.
After a goalless first half at Goodison Park, the Sky Sports duo conducted their analysis, and the Frenchman was at the heart of their critique.
The 28-year-old was involved in a tangle in the Blues penalty area that saw Burnley defender James Tarkowski fall to the floor, but the referee neglected to award a spot-kick to the Clarets.
“Doucoure takes a massive risk,” Neville said. “He doesn’t just grab him and block him, he grabs him and blocks him and then grabs him again as he goes past him. It’s just a foul, as simple as that.”
“It should be a penalty this season [despite the lighter touch rule],” Carragher added.
“It shouldn’t matter where the ball goes, but I agree with you, it’s probably made them [officials] a little bit hesitant.
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“If the ball is heading towards Tarkowski or Doucoure I think it’s 100% a penalty.”
All eyes on the penalty box
Given the scrutiny players are subjected to nowadays, with their every movement watched, it’s no surprise to see Neville and Carragher express surprise that no penalty was awarded to Burnley for that first-half incident.
It was clumsy, at best, from Doucoure, and as an experienced Premier League player he ought to know better.
However, up against the brute force of Sean Dyche’s Burnley, perhaps he just felt that he needed to apply an even greater level of protection.
As it was, Everton avoided any sanctions and went into half-time level despite Burnley being on top.
Doucoure was then, arguably, the Blues’ standout performer in the second half as the Blues motored from a goal down to blitz Burnley at Goodison Park.
In other Everton news, the Blues have signed this attacker after a seven-figure deal was agreed.
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