Goodison Stats: Davies deserves to retain Everton spot over Allan
Though Carlo Ancelotti will have Allan available when Everton face Southampton on Monday, Tom Davies should feel aggrieved if he is dropped for the Brazilian.
After signing from Napoli for around £20million last summer, Allan quickly established himself as a crucial player in Ancelotti’s midfield set-up.
However Davies has been forced to pick up much of the slack over the past couple of months, with Allan having not played since sustaining a hamstring injury against Leicester in mid-December.
Ancelotti revealed when speaking to the media this week that Allan will be fit to start against Saints, should the Italian elect to play him over Davies.
However according to stats gathered by WyScout, Davies deserves to retain his spot over the Brazil international.
Davies has bested Allan in a number of departments this season, boasting more aerial duels per 90 minutes [1.73 v 0.32] than the 30-year old, more loose ball duels [3.65 v 2.83] and more sliding tackles [1.44 v 0.4].
Davies also intercepts the ball more frequently every 90 minutes [4.71 v 3.72] than Allan, as well as making more clearances [2.02 v 0.89] over that same period of time.
Allan shouldn’t go without his own plaudits, having averaged more defensive duels per 90 minutes [11.48] than any player in the Premier League this season, while also ranking higher than Davies in recoveries made in the opposition’s half per 90 minutes [7.2 v 6.35].
However given his recent run of form and with statistics to back up his usefulness to Ancelotti’s midfield unit, Davies should certainly feel that he deserves an extended run-out for the Toffees.
Southampton will be missing their own midfield mainstay in Oriol Romeu when they come to Goodison Park on Monday Night Football, so either player’s inclusion should see the Blues get the job done.
Davies though will hope that there is a place for him in the line-up against the Saints.
In other Everton news, Paris Saint-Germain director Leonardo has described his club’s chances at landing Moise Kean on a permanent deal as “very complicated”.