Everton surge past Liverpool to top Premier League injury list
Everton are the current Premier League kings of one of the most unwanted statistics out there according to The Athletic – they have the most injuries.
Carlo Ancelotti has a number of tactical migraines at the moment with Monday’s dismal draw at Brighton ensuring a fifth winless game on the trot, a run of form that will put paid to their European hopes if it continues.
The Blues have looked toothless in attack and defensively vulnerable, but a study shows they are being severely handicapped by an external factor.
Tom Worville, Football Analytics writer at The Athletic, posted an infographic on his personal Twitter profile the morning after the forgettable 0-0 on the south coast.
He said: “Everton are the side with the most injuries in the Premier League at the moment. Big Sam’s West Brom only have 37 year-old Branislav Ivanovic on the treatment table. Wolves with 4 starters out for the long haul.”
The image attached shows all of the current injuries and suspensions for each of the 20 sides in the Premier League, and it makes painful viewing for Toffees.
A total of 10 absentees is two more than next-placed Leicester City, and three of their players are only out due to an internal disciplinary matter.
Meanwhile the apparently injury-hardened Liverpool have a miniature seven compared to our lengthy list.
Yerry Mina was the lastest Blues player to pick up a blow as he was forced from the field at the AMEX Stadium during the second half.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Allan and Jordan Pickford were notable absentees on Monday with knocks, but Abdoulaye Doucoure and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are longer-term injuries and the latter’s is especially disconcerting given he had only returned from a serious problem in last week’s draw with Crystal Palace.
It is not all bleak, with Ancelotti hopeful Calvert-Lewin, Allan and Pickford will all be back versus Tottenham Hotspur on Friday evening, in addition to Joshua King and Andre Gomes.
But it’s still a grim sight as we hurtle into the campaign’s concluding weeks.
While we still have a game in hand on all of the teams above us, we are now seven points off fourth-placed West Ham who hold the last remaining Champions League berth, and Aston Villa are only four points behind us in 11th.
A bottom-half finish would be unthinkable given our scintillating start to the season, but if the injuries continue to stack up at their current rate, our nightmares might just unravel in true Blues fashion.
In other Everton news, Rio Ferdinand urges billionaire-owned club to make move for Blues star.
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