Everton player ratings v Brighton: Ashley Young stinks, Jarrad Branthwaite shines
Everton and Brighton shared the spoils in the Premier League when the two sides took on each other at Goodison Park on Saturday, 4 November.
Vitalii Mykolenko opened the scoring and the hosts held the lead until Ashley Young put the ball into the back of his own goal to make it 1-1.
Here are our player ratings from the game:
Jordan Pickford – 7
Was terrific with his sweeping as he knew that Brighton would look to find spaces in behind the Everton defence. Marshalled his back line really well too as it was a top captain’s display even though he wasn’t the one wearing the armband.
Ashley Young – 3
Got done by Karou Mitoma on pace in the second half and had the Toffees not had bodies behind, it could’ve led to them conceding their first. Was dribbled past thrice in the game and according to Sofascore, lost 75 per cent of his ground duels. It remains a mystery why Nathan Patterson’s still starting ahead of him. To make things worse, he scored an own goal, adding to his woes.
James Tarkowski – 7
Won most of his aerial duels and was there at the back covering up whenever Everton needed him to. Did not have much to do in possession as Pickford played the ball long in order to avoid the high press from Brighton. Made a decisive challenge in the 82nd minute too which might have got him booked but was important to stop the attack.
Jarrad Branthwaite – 8
Was the most active Everton defender and has become so influential despite not being a first-team regular until this season. He made three vital interceptions, two clearances and one tackle and made life extremely hard for the Brighton attackers.
Vitalii Mykolenko – 6
Scored a phenomenal goal early on and that took Brighton by surprise and sent Goodison Park into ecstasy. However, he wasn’t that influential apart from that, as he completed just eight passes with an accuracy of less than 60 per cent.
Jack Harrison – 3
Struggled a great deal for Everton today as his decision making during key stages of the game was appalling, to say the least. He completed just three passes all game with a woeful pass accuracy of 23 per cent. Even when Brighton scored, he did not close Mitoma down, allowing him to play an easy ball into the box which caused Young’s own goal.
James Garner – 6
Had an all-action performance at the heart of midfield and was also tidy in possession with a pass accuracy of 75 per cent. He also won three tackles, two interceptions and made three clearances so he did his bit at curtailing the Seagulls from attacking too much.
Idrissa Gueye – 4
Was erratic with his passing and failed to ensure that the Toffees kept slightly more possession than they did. He also made a few questionable decisions that could’ve cost his side and it wasn’t the best of displays from him in the middle of the park.
Dwight McNeil – 5
His crossing was wayward and he did not do enough to offer any support to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He even lost possession on 13 occasions and he mainly was there as an addition full-back as he offered very little attacking threat barring the one long ranger he attempted late in the second half.
Abdoulaye Doucoure – 7
Was at his tireless best playing as a number 10/third midfielder as he’s understood perfectly what Dyche wants from him at Everton. He completed 84 per cent of his passes and even managed to have a shot on target. Top display from the 30-year-old.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 5
Did not have too much luck in front of goal, but was the physical presence that Dyche would’ve wanted him to be, winning six aerial duels. He failed to get a shot on target and otherwise struggled as he barely was involved in the game and did not have too many chances on the break.
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In other Everton news, a BBC pundit believes that a first-team player may have upset the rest of the dressing room after what he did and said recently.