Everton v Liverpool: Idrissa Gana Gueye could be key to success at Goodison Park
Idrissa Gana Gueye could be a key player for Everton as they host rivals Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
The midfielder played a starring role as Everton beat Nottingham Forest on 21 April, scoring the opening goal as the Toffees won 2-0 on home soil.
And he will need to be at his best to help Sean Dyche’s side earn a result when Liverpool pay them a visit.
Idrissa Gana Gueye can help Everton win the midfield battle
It is not Gueye’s goalscoring abilities that could mark him out as a crucial component of the team against Liverpool, however.
After all, the 34-year-old is hardly a regular goalscorer – that 29th-minute strike against Forest was just his second of the season, having opened his account for the campaign in a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace back in November.
Instead, it is his ball-winning qualities that Everton will require most in what is sure to be a fiery derby.
Against Forest, the Senegalese won five out of six – or 83 per cent – of his ground duels and won six of his eight duels overall [FotMob].
Furthermore, he made eight defensive actions and eight recoveries, as well as recording two interceptions.
Impressively, despite fulfilling such a combative role in the centre of the park, Gueye only committed one foul.
Against a Liverpool side that will look to dominate the ball, that tough-tackling nature will prove extremely useful.
Gueye’s ability to recover possession is not only useful as a tool for stopping Liverpool from scoring, however. Given the Reds’ propensity to throw bodies forward in attack, a well-timed challenge followed by a sharp, incisive pass could be exactly how Everton exploit the gaps left by their rivals in transition.
The Toffees midfielder is perhaps not the most creative player in Dyche’s squad, but he is certainly capable enough on the ball and his passing is generally secure – he recorded an 89 per cent passing accuracy against Forest, misplacing just four of his 38 attempted passes.
If Gueye can produce something approaching his best in the derby, it will certainly boost Everton’s chances.
In other Everton news, Jarrad Branthwaite’s valuation has plummeted according to an ex-club scout.
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