YAYA WONDER A LIABILITY?

Yaya Toure has been derided as a languid liability in some quarters – his performance in helping Manchester City to victory in the Capital One Cup final suggests such opinion is misplaced.

Misplaced, however, is one word which cannot be used to describe his stunning strike which drew City level early in the second half during their 3-1 triumph over Sunderland.

Sweeping first time into the top corner from 30 yards, it was Toure’s third goal at the new Wembley Stadium, the Ivorian having scored match-winners in both the FA Cup semi-final and final during his maiden season of 2010/11.

But it was Toure’s midfield domination which set his display apart. Indeed, Sportsmail’s Match Zone service reveals the extent of his influence.

No player on either side made more passes than Toure, who served up 77. That was one more than the total number attempted by Sunderland midfield quartet Lee Cattermole (25), Jack Colback (23), Seb Larsson (20) and Adam Johnson (8)

No opponent won more duels than Toure (7), while he also chipped in with two clearances, three interceptions and eight recoveries, only Alexsandar Kolarov (10) made more.

It was also Toure’s pass which laid on the game-sealing third for Jesus Navas and he carved a further two chances for team-mates.

But it is perhaps the 30-year-old’s heat map which serves to highlight best his hold on the contest, especially when it is compared to midfield adversaries Cattermole and Larsson.

A liability then - as former City midfielder Didi Hamann once labelled him - Toure quite clearly is not.