Idrissa Gueye proving his quality for Everton again with dominant first-half showing v Newcastle
Sean Dyche will have been delighted at by the start of his Everton players despite going a goal behind in their crucial Premier League clash against Newcastle United at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have the chance to move out of the drop zone should they beat the rampant and inform Magpies on Thursday evening in what remains a decisive clash in their quest for Premier League survival.
And Everton started the match well on the front foot despite going behind, pressing and harrying their opponents in the opening minutes. With much riding on this game, Dyche wouldn’t have accepted anything less from his men.
After the halfway mark, the Toffees recorded the most shots, tackles, counter-attacks and the better expected-goals than Newcastle highlighting their flawless start [SofaScore] which will have had Eddie Howe’s Champions League-chasing men shaking in their boots.
And one man central to everything good about Everton’s play was their veteran midfield ace Idrissa Gueye who is so far showing why former manager Frank Lampard was desperate to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
The 33-year-old has so often divided opinion since his return to Goodison Park often criticised for his lack of leadership and midfield quality that we know he possesses but against such a potent and destructive midfield trident of Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Joelinton, the Senegalese anchor rose to the occasion.
As per SofaScore, Gueye’s halftime numbers made for pleasing reading despite his side going a goal behind.
The former PSG man picked up one of the best average scores of his Everton teammates at 7.0/10 alongside Amadou Onana, recording two key passes, completing 14 of his 17 passes at an impressive rate of 82%, registering two shots and winning two of his four ground duels whilst also winning two fouls in an action-packed performance so far.
If Everton are to somehow turn this round, it is certainly likely to be Gueye that provides the telling solution.
Despite all his failings so far this season, he remains a key individual for Dyche and the Toffees in these testing weeks of their Premier League survival chase.