Lots of Everton fans have been tearing into Tom Davies on social media for his role in our 2-1 loss to Leicester City on Sunday.
Davies began our trip to the King Power Stadium in a central midfield pairing alongside Gylfi Sigurdsson, as boss Marco Silva deviated from his traditionally favoured 4-2-3-1 to kick things off in a 5-4-1 formation for the first time since we lost 1-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion in December 2018.
The decision would last until the 80th-minute after Silva brought Morgan Schneiderlin and Moise Kean on to go 3-5-2 while the scoreline remained level, but would not return a winning goal as Leicester rallied to fire home in the 93rd-minute and deal us our eighth loss of the league season.
We are now just two points above the relegation places after 18th-placed Southampton beat bottom-placed Watford 2-1 on Saturday, while fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur are just six points better off after the conclusion of matchweek 14.
Lots of fans have been tearing into Davies for his role in our latest top-flight defeat, as many felt the £25,000-per-week midfielder was, at least in part, responsible for both Leicester goals.
Davies lost a 50/50 challenge as the Foxes broke chasing an equaliser inside 20 minutes of the second-half, and later turned over possession before Kelechi Iheanacho struck the decisive stoppage-time winner.
Was Davies at fault for Leicester's goals?
Yes, both of them
Only their first
Only their second
No, he wasn't at fault
The 21-year-old also only managed to win one tackle during his 90 minute appearance, per WhoScored data, along with penning one clearance, no blocks and no through balls as he completed just 70.6% of his total 34 passes.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans offered their verdicts on Davies’ performance…
Tom davies was the liability
— Declan (@dos_efc) December 1, 2019
Hate to say it, but Tom Davies gave the ball away for both goals. And despite our best efforts, December begins as forecast. #EFC
— Mathew (@Mightymj1) December 1, 2019
Yes, I am blaming Davies for that result… Just not good enough. All you Davies fan boys can do one. #EFC #COYB
— Foleyfactor (@FoleyFactor) December 1, 2019
Tom Davies was horrible in that second half. He caused panic in the midfield. I was screaming for him to be hooked on 60 minutes. He cost us the first goal & probably the second. That’s on Marco Silva that.
— Alan Collins (@EFCCollins) December 1, 2019
Mina needs to cut out this backwards block thing that has crept into his game. Did it before the overturned penalty and in the winning goal.
Tom Davies incredibly naive all game, worse than he was last season here when hooked. No midfield, but needed to happen again #EFC
— Ben Grounds (@Ben_Islington) December 1, 2019
How many tackles is Tom Davies going to miss this second half? Certainly not all on him, but leading to some ridiculous counters. #EFC
— Patrick Kampfmueller (@patkampf) December 1, 2019
Anyone who thinks Davies and DCL are good players are clearly visually challenged. Silva at fault yet again and needs to go tonight! big Duncan in charge for the derby @Everton #EFC #LEIEVE
— adam sirett (@adamsirett1) December 1, 2019
Tom Davies didn’t have a good game but if you’re putting it on him today ye need to sort yer head out
— George (@GeorgeWoodEFC) December 1, 2019
The death of standards at EFC. How can Davies not be criticised for a truly terrible game when his mistakes largely contributed to the defeat ? Others to blame as well ? You bet. But we just never c consistently from squad. Two v decent games, then not so much then terrible.
— Mark Wilson (@efcmark777) December 2, 2019
In other Everton news, fans have been slamming a key Toffees man for his ‘poor decision making’ against Leicester City on Sunday.