Everton players were told not to concede cheap free kicks against Watford
Everton players are frustrated that some of the goals shipped in the 5-2 loss to Watford were self-inflicted, according to The Athletic.
The report claims the players had been warned repeatedly in the build-up not to concede cheap free-kicks against the visitors as they have big and potent attackers of aerial deliveries.
However, Lucas Digne did not quite get the memo, fouling Jeremy Ngakia, who was facing the corner flag.
The Frenchman did precisely what he and his teammates had been told not to barely 12 minutes into the game, and Watford equalised from the resulting free-kick through Joshua King.
Underwhelming
Rafa Benitez did his homework ahead of the clash and was aware of the threat the Watford players pose from set-pieces.
Everton lost to West Ham last weekend after Angelo Ogbonna converted a corner kick, and the Toffees manager definitely wanted his side to prevent conceding needless set-pieces against the Hornets.
Unfortunately, his side shipped two goals from dead balls, and things would have been different had that not happened.
Digne should have known better and followed the tactical orders, and Watford definitely gained confidence after drawing level that early into the game.
With Yerry Mina and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both missing, Everton were at a disadvantage aerially, and the players paid the price.
At the end of the day, Benitez gets the blame for seeing his side ship four goals in the final 12 minutes of the game, but things would have been different if the players had followed every of his instructions to the letter.
In other Everton news, BBC cameras spotted Duncan Ferguson’s reaction to Watford’s fifth goal v Toffees.
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