Alan Shearer again names Everton defender James Tarkowski in his Premier League Team of the Week after dramatic Chelsea draw
Alan Shearer has named Everton defender James Tarkowski in his top flight Team of the Week after the dramatic 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
The Premier League’s record goalscorer had also put the centre-back in his selection after the 1-0 win over Brentford a week ago, and was suitably impressed to have him retain his spot after the point at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (18 March).
The Toffees frustrated Graham Potter’s side in a solid opening 45-minutes, and while Tarkowski was involved in the penalty concession that looked like it had taken all three points he was an key part of an overall strong performance at the back and it was enough to get into Shearer’s side, as per the Premier League Twitter account.
The game finished 2-2 with Ellis Simms’ first goal in Everton colours, after Abdoulaye Doucouré had cancelled out Joao Felix’s 52nd-minute opener, and Kai Havertz had scored from the spot when Reece James was brought down by a combination of Ben Godfrey and Tarkowski.
Reward
Perhaps his role in the penalty incident makes the former Burnley man lucky to be named as one of the picks of the weekend, but in a game where Chelsea had 20 shots and didn’t take the points he was important.
It is customary to see the 30-year-old throwing himself into blocks and launching headers out of the box, and clearly Shearer has been impressed of late.
Sean Dyche’s arrival has made a huge difference to the Toffees’s fortunes, with 11 points in the eight games since he took over from Frank Lampard.
Back-to-back 2-2 draws away from home might not seem like much on paper, but for an Everton side that has been so reliant on home form over the past two seasons it makes a big difference.
If Dyche can keep getting his side to grind out vital 1-0 wins at Goodison Park then that is where most of the leg work in the relegation battle will be done.
But points, and crucially goals, on the road provides a major psychological boost while helping the build momentum in what is shaping up to be one of the tightest Premier League relegation battles in history.
And if Simms can build on his 89th-minute leveller to provide a presence at striker while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out then things are definitely looking up.