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Everton player ratings as Jarrad Branthwaite and two others shine against Sheffield United

<a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/players/1797766/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Jarrad Branthwaite;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Jarrad Branthwaite</a> of <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/everton/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Everton;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Everton</a> in action with <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/players/1898138/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Cameron Archer;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Cameron Archer</a> of <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/teams/sheffield-utd/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Sheffield United;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Sheffield United</a> during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Sheffield United at Goodison Park on May 11, 2024 -Credit:Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images


Everton finished the season with a fifth successive home win as they defeated already-relegated Sheffield United 1-0 at Goodison Park.

It wasn't a classic but once again, Sean Dyche's side got the job done thanks to a first half header from Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Here's how the players were rated:

AS IT HAPPENED: Everton vs Sheffield United live score updates and analysis

Jordan Pickford 8

Made a couple of smart saves late in the first half after hardly being tested for over half an hour. He had to be alert to make a timely interception to deny Cameron Archer and then just a couple of minutes later, parried away an Andre Brooks effort.

Seamus Coleman 7

The club captain competed with his usual tenacity, defending in determined fashion while pushing forward when he could despite it being unclear whether this was his Goodison Park swansong after 15 years.

Ashley Young 7

Enjoyed a much more comfortable afternoon after a tough night on and off the pitch at Luton Town last time out, he did well to get to a loose ball before Archer in the first half but gave the ball away cheaply a couple of times after the break.

James Tarkowski 8

Grew into this contest and got better as Sheffield United tried to force their way back in after the break. He made several crucial interceptions and blocks, dominating his area of the pitch and showing he doesn’t need to be wearing the armband to be a leader.

Jarrad Branthwaite 8

Other than a slightly nervous moment when an interception breezed just wide of Pickford’s left-hand post, the ‘Carlisle Kaiser’ strolled through this one, oozing class and looking imperious both on the ball and in the air.

Idrissa Gueye 7

Looked like he might grab his third Goodison goal in four games only for seemingly everyone in the ground other than Stuart Attwell to see his shot was deflected wide, he demonstrated clever play in the engine room and just keeps things ticking over so those in front of him can build attacks.

Amadou Onana 6

Was guilty of a slopping showing in the first half with a couple of heavy touches in promising positions but looked more assured after the break and made a crucial interception when Doucoure played himself into danger.

Abdoulaye Doucoure 7

Netted his first goal since December to break the deadlock by positioning himself cleverly in the centre of Sheffield United’s penalty area and head in a cross from Calvert-Lewin, he looked a threat in the final third again supporting his striker having earlier squandered a big opportunity when picked out by Calvert-Lewin as his looped shot was deflected over the bar.

James Garner 6

Should have doubled Everton’s lead in stoppage time but fired over the bar, he tried to offer a bit of guile out on the right wing with Jack Harrison missing through injury but while there was plenty of running, the dangerous passes we know he is capable of producing seemed in short supply.

Dwight McNeil 6

Plenty of neat touches but a rather low-key outing other than showing the quality he possesses when threading through the pass to Calvert-Lewin to start the move for Everton’s goal.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin 7

Looks really on it in the first half but found it tougher after the break. He picked out Abdoulaye Doucoure for an inviting chance before having a deflected low effort from outside the area collected by Wes Foderingham then showed great composure to feed Doucoure for the opener when taken out wide by the keeper but got himself booked in the incident that also saw Jack Robinson yellow carded for shoving him.

Lewis Dobbin (on 69 for Doucoure) 6

Offered a welcome bit of energy in the final quarter of the game.

Andre Gomes (on 69 for McNeil) 6

Surely a farewell cameo off the bench for the Portuguese midfielder, he brought a different kind of threat to Doucoure but withdrawn through a head injury in stoppage time.

Youssef Chermiti (on 79 for Calvert-Lewin) 7

Looked lively late on and blazed a shot wide before having another saved by Foderingham.

Lewis Warrington (on 90 for Gomes)

Stoppage time run-out for his Premier League debut.