Sean Dyche takes shot at Man Utd’s top four rivals ahead of Everton clash

Everton boss Sean Dyche has taken a swipe at one of Manchester United’s top four rivals ahead of Saturday’s clash between the Toffees and the Red Devils.

Everton find themselves fighting for their Premier League lives this season, currently just goal difference above the drop zone as they prepare to face United on Saturday. But they will be without Abdoulaye Doucoure for the clash, with the midfielder suspended following an encounter with Harry Kane which saw him grab - to use a verb loosely - at the striker’s face.

Some were left furious by the incident, but to very different levels. While some felt Doucoure was in the wrong, others felt Kane overexaggerated in order to get his opponent in trouble.

Speaking in his press conference, Dyche said: “The strange thing about football, the following of football, the rules and the governing bodies is that on one night you have a player [Keane] who, in theory, is very close to getting a broken ankle and nothing is said, and another [Kane] gets a broken eyelash and it’s like the world is going to end. But that’s society and how things have changed.

"It was pretty much nothing, but football has changed. I certainly can’t change it back again. I’ve been saying for years that there is an undercurrent of fans who are like: ‘Oh come on, really?’ and just want to get on with the game, but everyone has become so precious haven’t they? The rules are so precious, in society as well as football.

"I’m 51 with two kids and I’ve seen the rules around their lives change. Football just mirrors society in that respect. It was a big drama over nothing, although I was worried when they concussion tested him though. I thought: ‘Wow, this could be a close one’.”