David Moyes has it all figured out as Everton duo top mighty Premier League stat
Tim Iroegbunam and James Tarkowski have held down the fort for Everton this season when utilised by David Moyes.
Everton triumphed in a 2-0 victory against Fulham before the Premier League paused for the November international break.
The Toffees kept a clean sheet, which is one of three times Jordan Pickford has done so this season.
While it may not be as many clean sheets as Pickford has kept for England, the level of their opponents remains a consideration.
But as solid as the England international has been this season, those ahead of him have had his back.
Tim Iroegbunam and James Tarkowski top blocks stat
Tarkowski recently extended his Everton contract, and it’s easy to understand why.
The defender has been impressive for the Toffees this season:
- He has made 6.7 clearances per game
- Tarkowski has recovered 2.4 balls per 90
- He has made 1.4 tackles
He has also won 68 per cent of his duels and has been dribbled past just 0.5 times per game, according to Sofascore.
Meanwhile, Iroegbunam has been a solid rotational option for Everton this season, earning four starts in eight Premier League appearances.
- He has made 0.3 clearances per game
- Iroegbunam has recovered 2 balls per 90
- He has made 1.1 tackles
He has also won 55 per cent of his duels and has been dribbled past just 0.1 times per game when in the heart of midfield.
It is no wonder that the Everton duo are in the top five players for blocks per 90 in the Premier League this season.
Iroegbunam ranks second with six blocks, which averages to 1.60 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Tarkowski is one spot behind with 15 blocks, which averages to 1.40 per game.
Wolves star Emmanuel Agbadou tops the list with 10 blocks, averaging 1.60 blocks per game, the same as Iroegbunam.
While there is still a way to go, their individual accolades indicate that Moyes is close to figuring things out at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton’s defensive record speaks for itself
Everton’s defensive record is unsurprising, with players like Tarkowski and Iroegbunam topping Premier League charts.
The Toffees have conceded 13 goals in the league this season, which is the eighth fewest thus far.
Meanwhile, they have made a total of 329 clearances, which averages to 29.9 per game and four possessions won in the final third per 90, which is the third most in the league this season.
Despite being far from perfect, the Toffees’ defensive performance in the Premier League thus far has depended heavily on the collective.
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