Sean Dyche denies ‘silly’ Neal Maupay red card influenced Everton vs Reds snub

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    Neal Maupay got sent off in a behind-closed-doors friendly for Everton last week.

    The Toffees played Stockport last week as Sean Dyche looked to get a look at some of his players who didn’t feature much against Arsenal in his first game. Maupay was one of those but he ended up being shown a red card in a game which Ellis Simms scored twice for the Blues.

    But Dyche denied the red card influenced his selection of Simms to start up front in the Merseyside derby on Monday over Maupay. Dyche said: “Absolutely not, no. Only a silly spat over something nonsensical.

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    “That wouldn’t have any say in playing or not playing. I know who Neal is. As in he’s got a little bit of fire in him…I quite like that actually.”

    Maupay had played a key role in his short cameo against Arsenal – Dyche's first game in charge – earlier his month. The Frenchman was tormentor-in-chief as he wound up the then-Premier League leaders, who had found themsleves a goal down to the Toffees.

    However, the striker has struggled for goals this season.

    What have you made of Sean Dyche's start to life on Merseyside? Let us know in the comments section below

    Maupay has only found the net once for Everton this campaign – with that notch coming in September in a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers West Ham.

    The Toffees are looking up the Premier League table, and a win this weekend – if other results go their way – could see them move out of the relegation zone.

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