Some Everton fans were left unsatisfied by Bernard’s performance against Manchester United on Sunday, as we played out a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
We had taken the lead in the 36th-minute through a Victor Lindelof own goal, but a second-half strike from substitute Mason Greenwood ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils were able to take something to show for their efforts.
Interim Toffees manager Duncan Ferguson had taken Bernard off by six minutes before Greenwood would pull the score level, having opened the game with the Brazilian in his line-up for the 14-cap international’s seventh Premier League start of the campaign.
Bernard had played just 59 minutes of top-flight football since the end of October before featuring at Old Trafford, having sat out games against Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Norwich City with a knee injury before returning to the line-up away to Liverpool earlier this month.
Some fans have suggested that Bernard appeared to be unfit against Manchester United on Sunday, while one claimed he was ‘invisible’ and another added that his shooting let him down.
Bernard only registered one attempted shot on Sunday, per WhoScored data, which came in the third minute and was off target. The 27-year-old also failed to register any successful dribbles and played one key ball from 20 accurate passes.
How would you describe Bernard's performance vs Man Utd?
Man of the Match
Key to the result
Room for improvment
Absolutely awful
The £18million-rated midfielder struggled to offer first-half substitute Leighton Baines much defensive cover, either, with Bernard only successful with three of his nine attempted tackles – the joint-lowest success rate with Tom Davies (33%) of any player that started.
Further, Bernard lost possession nine times at Old Trafford, won just three of his 12 ground duels, and could not connect with a teammate with any of his three attempted crosses and did not register an attempted long pass, according to statistics collected by Sofa Score.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Bernard’s performance in our 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Sunday…
Barely knew Bernard was out there
— Jack Donahue (@DownUnderToffee) December 15, 2019
If only #Bernard could shoot #efc
— Simon Currie (@sicurrie) December 15, 2019
Bernard and Iwobi invisible here
— Jack◢ ◤ (@JackEFC95) December 15, 2019
Bernard forgot Baines in 45 yrs old now 😂
— #efc Sam (@KD_EFC) December 15, 2019
Bernard doesn’t look fit to me, i’d be tempted bring kean on for him throw iwobi left #EFC
— James Andrews (@SavEliiz2014) December 15, 2019
Iwobi and Bernard need to be better here. #COYBS
— COYBS (@EFCTay) December 15, 2019
Iwobi & Bernard might as well be on that injury list 😣 #efc
— Tony (@efc4TR) December 15, 2019
To be fair Bernard looked drained there happy with that sub
— Scott Parkin 🐧 (@Efc_ScottParkin) December 15, 2019
In other Everton news, a manager has confirmed his side’s intent to land a 5 ft 10 Blues man in the January window.