Liverpool Echo journalist tips Sean Dyche to axe ‘vulnerable’ Ashley Young for Nathan Patterson in Everton clash v Brighton
Joe Thomas has tipped Sean Dyche to axe Everton defender Ashley Young for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brighton (4 November).
The Liverpool ECHO journo, sharing his prediction (4 November) for Dyche’s starting eleven against the Seagulls at Goodison Park believes Nathan Patterson should be welcomed back into the team as he offers more security than Young.
The former Aston Villa defender came back into the team at right-back in place of the Scottish international and scored the third goal as Everton ran out comfortable winners on Wednesday (1 November).
However, Thomas admitted he is worried by the way Young has been beaten by forwards in the past, not least in the 1-0 Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool where he was sent-off for a challenge on Luis Diaz.
He wrote: “Worried at the way Luis Diaz had run at Ashley Young at Anfield, I thought James Garner would be the best temporary fix with Idrissa Gueye available to cover him in the middle.
“But Patterson was part of that massive win last week plus, at the London Stadium and then against Burnley in the Carabao Cup, Garner continued to build on a blossoming partnership with Amadou Onana in midfield that deserves to be maintained.
“I thought Everton looked most vulnerable on the right of defence on Wednesday night too, where Young returned after his suspension. Also in the back of my mind is a forgotten aspect of last season’s incredible win at Brighton.
“For the magic of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the move for the crucial opening goal started with Patterson winning the ball.”
Crucial decision
After some worrying and indeed vulnerable performances in recent weeks, Young did look particularly improved against Burnley in midweek which may sway Dyche’s thinking.
However, as Thomas points out, he did look worrying not only in his defending but his qualities in possession too, successfully completing just 60% of his passes, losing possession of a whopping 23 times, completing three of his eight long balls and failed in 100% of his dribbles [SofaScore].
Young simply does not provide the security in possession Dyche will desperately need when they face off against a talented Brighton side. Also, the veteran defender won just four of his ten ground duels, was dribbled past once.
While Patterson recorded a 72% pass success rate against West Ham, he fared better defensively against the likes of Paqueta and Kudus, winning five of his duels but was dribbled past four times which could well be a cause for concern for Dyche.
The Toffees come up against one of the Premier League’s most gifted dribbles and wide-players in Kaoru Mitoma but the stats show that both players could struggle against the Japanese international.
Dyche faces a crucial dilemma for the game, one which could make or break a potential result for the Toffees.
In other Everton news, Dyche raved about the “exceptional” performance of one Toffees player in particular against Burnley.