Everton: Jack Harrison wrong man axed over Ashley Young for Abdoulaye Doucouré v Crystal Palace
Abdoulaye Doucouré’s return to the Everton starting line-up is a hugely-welcome change ready to face Crystal Palace.
The 31-year-old has only played once in the past two months after a pair of untimely injuries but comes back in to the XI for a key clash at Goodison Park.
But the fact that Sean Dyche has dropped Leeds United loanee Jack Harrison from the side to accommodate the Malian could be a mistake.
The Englishman has started every one of the past 17 Premier League games for a reason, as he has injected some important attacking impetus which, although it has arguably dipped somewhat of late, is surely what the Toffees need plenty of with Doucouré back in the side and three badly-needed points on offer.
Sean Dyche drops wrong Everton attacker for Abdoulaye Doucouré
Ashley Young has kept his place, presumably as a winger rather than a full-back unless Dyche is going with a back-five, despite not having contributed a league goal or assist all season.
The 38-year-old largely hasn’t been the reassuring presence his impressive work at Aston Villa last term suggested he would be, and he has already helped contribute to Everton’s downfall in big games more than once this term.
His first-half red card against Liverpool on 21 October showed anything but two decades of experience, and his penalty concession in another prime-time TV game against Manchester United on 26 November ended the home side’s resistance at Goodison Park and was heavily criticised.
Ashley Young has undercut two big Everton games already
Without a Premier League win since the start of 2024 and just three points taken from 12 in that time a victory over a struggling Palace side looks a must so another rush of blood from Young could be hugely damaging, and he hasn’t so far proven he can add to the attack enough to make up for it.
The manager has arguably taken also risk by leaving star man Amadou Onana on the bench but based on the evidence of the season as a whole he has taken a bigger one by sacrificing Harrison’s output – three goals and three assists in the top flight – and keeping the oddly-erratic Young in place.
In other Everton news, a key man at the top of 777 Partners has resigned with the takeover hanging in the balance.
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