Everton 1-0 Huddersfield Town: Player Ratings

Everton took the first step to redemption after Saturday’s FA Cup embarrassment at Millwall with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.

Richarlison scored the game’s only goal after just three minutes, in a game which got increasingly nervy for the Toffees, especially after substitute Lucas Digne’s red card midway through the second half.

Here’s how the Toffees rated as they held on for only their third away league win of the season:

Jordan Pickford - 7: Had nothing of note to do prior to Digne’s red card, then made two excellent saves to preserve Everton’s lead and clean sheet. The first, from Aaron Mooy’s rasping free-kick, the second an incredible stop from Elias Kachunga’s header from point-blank range.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Seamus Coleman - 6: Decent at best. Assured in defence, but final ball going forward was lacking, especially in the first period.

Kurt Zouma - 7: Looked comfortable throughout and dealt with everything sent his way confidently. Has seen off the competition for his place from Yerry Mina with ease.

Michael Keane - 6: Like Zouma, generally solid in defence, though he tired more than most as the game wore on. Arguably fortunate not to have conceded a last-minute penalty.

Leighton Baines - 6: His usual classy self before injury curtailed his return to league action early in the second half. A footballer as intelligent as Baines deserves more game time, regardless of how well Digne has performed for much of this term.

André Gomes - 6: Calm and composed in possession, even if he didn’t set the world alight. Another who looks in particular need of a rest as he cut a jaded figure in the second half.

Tom Davies - 7: Much-improved from a much-maligned player. Many have reservations on the 20-year-old, but his energy in midfield enabled Everton to control proceedings for the most part. Excellent play to assist Richarlison, too.

Richarlison - 7: Didn’t do a great deal other than his goal, but anyone who scores a winner away from home for Everton deserves a fair amount of credit. Looked far more comfortable in his natural left-wing position than when moved up front later on.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Gylfi Sigurðsson - 5: Quiet again from Sigurðsson. Again, he found himself too often on the periphery, and as clever and technically gifted a footballer as he is, he demonstrated his quality too sporadically.

Bernard - 6: An improved, if inconsistent, performance from the Brazilian, playing on the right instead of his favoured left. As exciting as he is infuriating, at times.

Cenk Tosun - 7: Caused all manner of problems for Huddersfield’s back line in the first half, but Digne’s red card, coupled with Tosun’s own over-enthusiasm at times, led to him being hooked midway through the second period. Was rightly booked for a needless foul, but should keep his place for Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Substitutes

Lucas Digne (replaced Baines, 55’) - 3: Played 11 minutes before being sent off. Hard to justify marking him higher. Can you blame him, as the last man, for committing the professional foul on Adama Diakhaby? Perhaps not, but it all stemmed from his initial poor positioning from the long ball forward.

Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Jonjoe Kenny (replaced Tosun, 70’) - 5: Played out of position to deputise at left-back, and never looked entirely at ease with the challenge. Will be in for an even tougher test on Saturday if Baines doesn’t recover in time and Marco Silva sticks with Kenny.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (replaced Richarlison, 86’) - N/A

Not an inspiring performance from Everton, but after a chastening last two defeats, this was a night when the result was especially more important. Admittedly, Huddersfield were poor, but the Blues deserve credit for seeing out a tetchy second half.