An update on Abdoulaye Doucoure’s injury is provided by Sean Dyche ahead of Everton’s match against Tottenham.
To Everton’s detriment, Sean Dyche does not anticipate having Abdoulaye Doucoure back fit for the weekend before the team travels to Tottenham on Saturday (December 23).
Due to a hamstring injury, the offensive midfielder was substituted out of the game at halftime of the 2-0 victory over Burnley on December 16. As a result, he missed the Toffees’ quarterfinal Carabao Cup departure following their Tuesday, December 19, penalty shootout loss to Fulham.
Another setback for Dyche and the Toffees: Everton’s top scorer is now expected to miss the match against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“We hope things settle down fast going ahead, but probably not at the weekend,” Dyche stated in statements that were published in the Liverpool Echo on December 20.
“We hope it settles down shortly because he is a good healer and really fit.”
Great shame
The Carabao Cup elimination to Fulham somewhat tempered the celebratory atmosphere that had grown at Goodison Park following four straight wins, and it seemed like a chance lost for Everton.
However, there is some background to that, as Doucoure is not the only person missing. Seamus Coleman, Ashley Young, and Vitaliy Mykolenko were all absent, and the team is currently feeling a touch overworked—at the worst possible moment in front of the hectic holiday schedule.
But the one that will be felt the most is Doucoure’s absence. It may be said that he has been Dyche’s most significant player and that he has truly thrived under his direction.
Had he been available against Spurs, the team’s prospects of winning and going back to Merseyside with all three points would have been considerably increased. This Everton side cannot be written off, but it is definitely a much harder task without him.
Sean Dyche steps in after Jordan Pickford became “furious” with his Everton teammate following his actions against Fulham.
Connor O’Neill claims that Jordan Pickford became “furious” with Nathan Patterson, his Everton teammate, during the EFL Cup quarterfinal loss to Fulham.
In a Liverpool Echo round-up of moments from Tuesday’s December 19 match that some people might have missed, the journalist provided details on the incident.
After the game at Goodison Park ended in a 1-1 draw during regulation time, Beto scored a penalty kick to negate Michael Keane’s earlier own goal, but Everton lost the match 7-6 on penalties.
Regarding the little-known confrontation between Pickford and Patterson in the second half, O’Neill writes, “Jordan Pickford is furious with Nathan Patterson.”
“After Fulham had just cleared an Everton corner, Nathan Patterson had failed to let the ball go through to Pickford, who couldn’t help but display his emotions shortly before the hour mark.
“Sean Dyche looked to implore his custodian to cool down on the touchline, while Pickford gave the Scotland international a piece of his mind.”
Nothing negative occurred
With a game that meant so much to the Everton players, emotions were obviously running high. Pickford is a fervent fan of friendly games, regardless of whether a Cup semifinal is at stake.
Everton was down by a goal at the time of this misunderstanding, so tensions were high as they tried to pull one back.
After Beto’s equaliser in the last ten minutes, the Toffees were in control and appeared to be a good bargain to set up a two-leg semifinal early in the next season.
But sadly, it was not to be, as Tosin Adarabioyo scored the game-winning penalty kick after Idrissa Gueye’s 12-yard attempt had struck the goal’s frame.
It is impossible to hold the players accountable for their lack of effort, especially after their impressive performance in the Premier League over the last few weeks.
Furthermore, Pickford can express his feelings to Patterson, as he did this time, as long as their conflicts do not go too far.
