One Everton star was arguably worse than Ashley Young vs Man United, here’s why

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On a day when the home support was arguably in the best voice it has been in years, the Everton players simply did not show up for the occasion.

That being said, they did forge more than enough to claim victory, but lacked that killer instinct once again as they missed chance after chance. The visitors were far more ruthless, and in the end, Manchester United would stroll to a 3-0 victory amid mass protest.

Whilst many stars in royal blue let Goodison Park down on one of its biggest afternoons in recent history, many will rush to point the finger at Ashley Young, who endured yet another torrid showing before his eventual substitution.

The 38-year-old looked leggy, rash and uncomfortable, deservedly receiving a match-worst rating of 6.3.

His clumsiness to bundle over Anthony Martial for the penalty essentially killed the game off, as the ageing defender continues to showcase an inexperience unprecedented for someone who has spent so many years in the Premier League.

Sean Dyche simply cannot persist with him at right-back, but yesterday there was arguably another who stood out over Young for all the wrong reasons. Whilst the former Red Devils winger will come away from the clash frustrated with his personal performance, Abdoulaye Doucoure must be devastated.

How did Abdoulaye Doucoure play vs Manchester United?

As their talisman and joint-top scorer for the current campaign, many look to the 30-year-old as a focal point for goalscoring within this Everton team.

His work rate is faultless and as such much of the chances he forges are born from his own endeavour and positional intelligence.

Whilst that was not lacking yesterday, it was his cutting edge that went amiss, as the Mali international squandered chance after chance to get his side back in the game.

It would therefore be argued that, had the £20m finisher merely found the back of the net, Young would not have even been in the position to end their chances of a comeback.

Enjoying just 33 touches of the ball, his anonymity is outlined, but that is made worse by the fact he would win just 75% of the 12 duels he competed in, via Sofascore.

On top of that, losing possession 11 times marked a profligate showing that is uncharacteristic of Doucoure, which spurred writer Ell Bretland to claim: ‘Bigger picture you just need far better than the likes of Doucoure. For the big moments he’s had it’s just not good enough to miss such chances and be so poor in possession.’

After such a raucous pre-game march, and the atmosphere generated by the home support, it is disappointing that they were let down so severely by their star man.