Watford made an improvement against Everton after a poor defeat on the opening day of the season.

However, it wasn't enough to earn anything from the game and they return home from Merseyside empty handed.

Here's how we rated their individual performances:

 

Ben Foster - 6

The goalkeeper didn't have a great deal to do throughout the game, but was beaten at his near post for the only goal and looked a bit shaky in other instances.

Again, he wasn't helped out a great deal by his defenders.

 

Kiko Femenia - 6

Another player who didn't cover themself in glory for the deciding goal was Femenia, who gave Bernard far too much time and space on the ball.

He got forward well in other moments, but was unable to produce a final ball of any great quality.


Craig Cathcart - 6

The Northern Irishman made a noticeable improvement in the centre of defence and reduced the number of opportunities Everton had to score.

 

Craig Dawson - 6

Alongside Cathcart, Dawson put in a steadier showing altogether, although he also could have done better for the goal.

He was very unfortunate to see his header crash back off the bar in the first-half.

 

Jose Holebas - 5

The Greek full-back looked some distance off his best once again, with his set piece deliveries either too long or short.

Defensively, he struggled to keep up and at times looked a little lost. More improvement needed from him.

 

Roberto Pereyra - 5

This was a frustrating performance from the Argentine, who struggled to produce in the final third and never really gave the Toffees' defence a great deal to think about.

He was also booked for diving in the second-half.

 

Abdoulaye Doucoure - 5 

Javi Gracia insists the midfielder was not unsettled by two bids from Everton, but his mind was not completely focused on the game at Goodison Park.

His passing was far sloppier than Watford fans have come to expect and his robust defensive work was missing again.

 

Etienne Capoue - 6

Capoue looked much more focused than last week, but still is not at his best.

He was booked for a clumsy challenge in the first-half and looked second best to Everton's midfield. 

After the break, he rolled his socks up a bit, but there is still work to be done.

 

Will Hughes - 6

Hughes' tenacity is usually worthy of praise and again that was the case against Everton.

He threw himself into challenges and regularly won free kicks in dangerous positions, only for team-mates to squander the opportunities.

 

Gerard Deulofeu - 7

Probably the biggest improvement from last week came from Deulofeu, who gave the Everton defence the most to think about from the Watford contingient.

He produced the Hornets' best chance of the match with a neat through ball to Troy Deeney, who was denied by Jordan Pickford.

 

Troy Deeney - 5

The skipper looked slow and cumbersome yet again and ought to have done much better with Watford's best chance of the game.

In both matches, he has struggled to find space in which to shoot and has been easily marked out of proceedings. He needs to lead by example and make a vast improvement next week.

 

SUBS

 

Danny Welbeck - 6

Not much fell for the debutant, who looked lively after coming on in the second half.

He will hope to make more of an impact against West Ham next Saturday.

 

Tom Cleverley - N/A

Joined the game too late to make an impact.

 

Andre Gray - N/A

Joined the game too late to make an impact.