The midfielder worked hard, but struggled to have an impact for Everton.
Former Everton defender Michael Ball has criticised the performance of Tom Cleverley against former club Manchester United at the weekend.
The midfielder was brought in to try and prove his worth at Goodison Park, with Ross Barkley continuing to struggle for his best form for the club this season.
Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan in action with Everton’s Tom Cleverley
But he did very little to impose himself on the game and Ronald Koeman would have been struggling to find a reason to be impressed.
Ball, a former Everton left-back, was certainly not impressed by the performance of Cleverley – even though he did try hard. He wrote in the Liverpool Echo:
Everton’s Tom Cleverley in action with Manchester United’s Michael Carrick
“The starting line-up did surprise me a little bit. Seeing Tom Cleverley in there I thought ‘I’m not too sure.’
“However, Ross Barkley hasn’t been reaching the levels expected of him while Phil Jagielka has been through a sticky patch so it’s only right and fair that others are given a chance.
“Cleverley didn’t show much in my opinion and while his work rate was there but he didn’t bring anything for me. He looked a little bit lost and it seemed like the game was too much for him.”
Cleverley is undoubtedly a talented player but when it comes down to it he has nowhere near the same level of game-changing ability that Barkley possesses.
Everton’s Ross Barkley scores their second goal
The latter has not been in his best form this term but still has that X-factor a player like Cleverley simply does not possess.
Barkley has been dividing opinion this season, and has not been on the winning side in his last eight Everton outings.
But when it comes to a choice between the two, Barkley should surely get the nod.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
