Mike Dean offers ‘trouble’ verdict on Ashley Young sending off for Everton against Liverpool
Mike Dean has slammed Ashley Young for putting himself in “trouble” so early on in the Merseyside derby clash between Everton and Liverpool.
Sean Dyche’s side returned to action following the international break on Saturday (21 October) with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, with Mohammed Salah scoring twice to ensure that the Toffees were unable to make it back-to-back Premier League wins.
Everton were reduced to 10 men in the closing minutes of the first half, as Young received a second yellow card for a foul on Luis Diaz and former referee Mike Dean was quick to criticise the former England international for his mistake.
Speaking on Sky Sports (21 October, 13:12) he said: “He’s put himself in trouble again getting cautioned so early on and where the challenge was right in the corner of the penalty area.
“Diaz is clever to come across him, but a challenge he probably didn’t have to make, to be honest with you.”
Another mistake
Young’s time at Goodison Park has been an incredibly messy spell so far, with a number of moments that have shown a level of naivety and a lack of care that Everton supporters wouldn’t have hoped to have seen from such an experienced player.
Against Aston Villa earlier this season he gifted Unai Emery’s side a goal and before the international break against Luton Town he failed to clear his lines to ensure that the Hatters picked up their first-ever Premier League win against the Toffees.
His sending-off at Anfield epitomised the issue that he is having at Goodison, as he was unable to keep up with the lightning-quick Diaz as the Colombian ultimately got the better of him twice to see him receive two yellow cards early in the contest.
It made the rest of the match a real test for Everton as they battled against a strong Liverpool side with one less man, but you have to wonder how many more mistakes Young will be allowed to make before Dyche opts to take him out of the starting XI.
In other Everton news, legal letters have been sent to the Toffees over an alleged failure to pay agent fees