Walcott was Everton’s weakest link in strong derby performance against Liverpool

Add as preferred source on Google

Everton travelled to Anfield yesterday hoping to put on a performance that underlined the scale of their progress under Marco Silva and did exactly that.

The fear was that the psychological scars that Toffees sides of the past have carried would still lay heavy on this current crop but they were not cowed by the challenge of going to Anfield; a ground on which Everton have not won since the turn of the millennium.

There were stellar performances across the pitch; the new-look backline was largely solid, Andre Gomes and Gylfi Sigurdsson offered class, while Richarlison and Bernard ran tirelessly.

But out on the right, Theo Walcott was the weak link in an otherwise hugely impressive display. He left Seamus Coleman exposed against Sadio Mane too often but failed to get up and challenge Andy Robertson on the counter attack.

Presumably Walcott is persistently preferred to Ademola Lookman because of his superior experience and maturity but there is precious little evidence to suggest that’s actually helping Everton’s performances right now.

Maybe Silva’s side need a little bit more unpredictability and there has been a precedent set this season of young English talent shining when they get games.