Liverpool Echo journalist shares why Ashley Young avoided red card in Everton v Manchester United
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire helped stop Everton full-back Ashley Young from being sent off in Sunday’s (26 November) match, according to Liverpool Echo reporter Joe Thomas.
Young, already on a caution for bringing down Alejandro Garnacho in the first half, felled Anthony Martial as United were awarded a penalty to double their lead.
The spot-kick was awarded after a VAR check after Martial was initially cautioned for diving, but while the Frenchman’s yellow was rescinded, Young somehow avoided being shown a second booking.
Writing on his personal Twitter account [26 November], Thomas said: “I think Maguire has just done Young a big favour.
“Already on a booking, Young looked to be heading over to the ref to complain and Maguire stopped him.”
Suspension incoming
Maguire himself approached John Brooks, and it initially looked like he was telling the referee to reach into his pocket and send Young off.
The United centre-back should of himself been booked for doing that, as per the recently introduced rules regarding approaching officials.
Still, Young must consider himself extremely fortunate to have avoided a second yellow as he definitely caught Martial inside the penalty area.
In many ways, the penalty itself was a big enough punishment as it killed off Everton’s momentum, and Young will serve a suspension anyway.
That is because the veteran full-back has picked up five yellow cards in the Premier League this season, meaning an automatic one-game ban.
Throw into the mix his red card against Liverpool recently, and it is fair to say Young has a disciplinary problem.
It has cost Everton more than once this season, and it may well be time for Sean Dyche to change things permanently.
In other Everton news, a Toffees player was lucky not to be hauled off at half-time versus United.