Sam Allardyce has told Wayne Rooney to vent his frustrations within the confines of the Everton manager’s office after the forward reacted furiously to his early substitution against Liverpool.
Rooney was withdrawn in the 57th minute at Goodison Park for the second game in succession as Allardyce sought “more legs” in midfield and an improvement to a passing game he described as “a bit woeful”. The former England captain did not disguise his anger at the decision and responded angrily, appearing to snub his manager’s offer of a handshake as he was replaced by Idrissa Gana Gueye and being caught on camera shouting “bullshit”. The 32-year-old had also been replaced in the 57th minute of last weekend’s comprehensive home defeat by Manchester City.
“He can say whatever he wants to me in the office but it has to be done between the four walls of the office between me and him,” the Everton manager said. “He’s an Evertonian through and through and he’s been brought off in a derby game. I’d expect a reaction because that’s how much he cares. That’s fine by me. I wouldn’t expect him to smile and say, ‘All right gaffer, well done’.
“The three substitutions, no matter how disappointed anyone is when they are substituted, made a big impact and almost helped us win the game. I understand the ones who get brought off are disappointed but I made those decisions for the benefit of the team and they benefited the team today. Nobody is too big to be hooked.”
Everton were on the back foot for the majority of the derby but finished the 0-0 draw strongly and should have recorded their first win over Liverpool in eight years when both Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed excellent chances in the final minutes.
Allardyce explained: “Our passing sometimes got a bit woeful and that is why we made the changes. Once we sat back in the first part of the second half, it was time for change. We changed Dominic and Gana and then Beni [Baningime] and that gave us the legs and that bit more quality for everyone else to join in with. We started getting Séamus [Coleman] and Leighton [Baines] forward. I think everyone would agree Liverpool were much more pleased when the final whistle went.” ”
