Iliman Ndiaye tops unexpected Premier League stat Everton fans will love, Elliot Anderson second
Iliman Ndiaye has been a shining light for Everton since arriving from Olympique Marseille in 2024.
The 25-year-old has proven he can carry the attacking burden at the Toffees on his back after some influential performances this season.
Ndiaye caught a lot of people’s attention against Manchester City despite the Blues losing 2-0, with the forward running circles around Pep Guardiola’s defence at the Etihad Stadium.
Even as the Hill Dickinson Stadium witnessed its first loss against Tottenham, the Senegal international was a constant threat against Thomas Frank’s team, but there’s more to him than just the flicks and tricks.
Premier League ground duels won: Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye tops list
Ndiaye isn’t just contributing to the Toffees’ attacks, he’s also working hard defensively to help his teammates.
While many Blues fans might forgive the Senegalese forward for not putting in a defensive shift due to his impact in the final third, he does the work nonetheless.
With 59 ground duels won in the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore, the attacker sits at the top of the table for that metric.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, who often plays in a deeper role, is second in the list with 57 ground duels won.
| Player | Ground duels won |
| 1. Iliman Ndiaye | 59 |
| 2. Elliot Anderson | 57 |
| 3. Mohammed Kudus | 57 |
| 4. Jack Grealish | 53 |
| 5. Yankuba Minteh | 52 |
Jack Grealish is another player from the Merseyside outfit who makes the top five, winning 53 ground duels, with Mohammed Kudus and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh also in it.
Ndiaye is also ranked 13th in terms of tackles, highlighting just how involved he is in helping the Toffees win possession.
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Iliman Ndiaye to be solution for major David Moyes problem
Ndiaye should be used as a number nine by Moyes, with the Blues struggling to score goals this season.
Everton have scored just nine times in the Premier League in the current campaign, with the Senegal international their top goalscorer with three.
Beto and Thierno Barry have proven to be unreliable up front for the Merseyside outfit, and it would make sense to give the former Marseille attacker a chance in that position at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Ndiaye has shown his versatility by continuing to play well on the right-wing after spending the majority of last season on the left, and Moyes should give the forward a go in the number nine position.
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