View: 4/10 star flops, 8/10 MOTM shines for Blues – Everton player ratings v Newcastle

In a Premier League clash on April 2, 2024, Everton managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park, despite being outplayed for significant portions of the match. Newcastle took an early lead thanks to a goal from Alexander Isak, but Everton fought back and equalized late in the game through a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty, awarded after VAR identified a foul by Paul Dummett on Ashley Young.

Here’s how the Everton players were rated for their performances:

• Jordan Pickford (8/10): Despite receiving boos from the Newcastle fans due to his Sunderland ties, Pickford made several key saves and impressed with his long-range passing.
• Ben Godfrey (6/10): Showed some early attacking intent but spent most of the game on defensive duties. Substituted for Seamus Coleman in the 90th minute.
• James Tarkowski (6/10): Missed an early scoring opportunity and was caught out of position for Newcastle’s goal. Nonetheless, he played a crucial role in defense.
• Jarrad Branthwaite (6/10): Struggled against Isak for the opening goal and had a few untidy moments with the ball. His defensive partner, Tarkowski, compensated for these lapses.
• Vitaliy Mykolenko (7/10): Despite Newcastle’s dominance limiting his attacking contributions, Mykolenko made a vital goal-line clearance to prevent a second Newcastle goal.
• Ashley Young (5/10): Had a largely ineffective game but won the penalty that led to Everton’s equalizer.
• Amadou Onana (5/10): Kept his passing tidy but was overwhelmed in midfield and substituted in the 61st minute for Andre Gomes.
• Idrissa Gana Gueye (6/10): Fought hard in midfield despite the lack of support but couldn’t gain control of the game. Substituted for Youssef Chermiti in the 82nd minute.
• Dwight McNeil (6/10): Created a notable chance early on and tried to find space by drifting from his position, but his efforts often ended in vain.
• Abdoulaye Doucoure (4/10): Received the ball in promising positions but failed to make an impact, reflecting a midfield that struggled throughout the game. Substituted for James Garner in the 61st minute.
• Beto (5/10): Started well but faded as Everton lost control, leading to his substitution for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 61st minute.

Substitutes:

• Andre Gomes (5/10): Failed to make a significant impact after replacing Onana.
• James Garner (6/10): Brought energy to the team and hit the post, nearly scoring.
• Dominic Calvert-Lewin (7/10): Despite limited service, he confidently converted the crucial penalty.
• Youssef Chermiti and Seamus Coleman received no rating due to limited playtime.

This match was a testament to Everton’s resilience in their battle against relegation, with standout performances and areas for improvement highlighted by the player ratings.