Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski best in position this season, Everton pair make World Cup claim
Everton duo Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski are statistically in England’s best team so far this season, according to the Daily Mail.
The Toffees have been heavily reliant on their defensive unit to stand firm with goals hard to come by in large quantities this season and this duo, along with Conor Coady, have stood up to the task.
Pickford is rated at a 7.32 so far this season which far exceeds that of Newcastle United shot-stopper Nick Pope (7.13), Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale and Dean Henderson from Nottingham Forest (both 6.89).
Tarkowski meanwhile is rated at a 7.25 this season which puts him at the top of the tree in terms of central defenders in contention for an England starting spot.
Ben Mee is closest to that rating with a 7.11 while Coady rates at a 6.94, just below Ben White and Eric Dier but above the likes of Fikayo Tomori at AC Milan and Harry Maguire.
Bias
Southgate is set to announce his 26-man squad for the World Cup on Thursday (10 November) and Pickford is perhaps the only Everton star practically guaranteed to be on the plane.
Tarkowski and Coady are both in with a shout with Maguire hardly playing for Manchester United and form elsewhere being ropey at best but neither would be considered a shoo-in.
But if Southgate is going to select on form like he has said he would in the past then it could be hard to leave one or either at home for this tournament.
Everybody knows, however, that the Three Lions boss has his favourites and they will all be in the squad if they are fit regardless of how they are playing in the Premier League, or other leagues, this season.
If anything, Coady’s leadership away from the pitch might see him jump the queue ahead of his Everton teammate with that presence simply invaluable at a major tournament.