(Credit: Imago)

Daniel Davis

Thu 16 April 2026 17:10, UK

James Tarkowski has certainly embraced his role as Everton‘s elder statesman with open arms, having challenged his team-mates to send out another statement against Liverpool.

Clearly, this dependable, old-school defender has no desire to stand still. With David Moyes‘ side just five points behind the Champions League places, what was once thought an impossibility is now in fact possible at the end of this truly staggering campaign.

Tarkowski, now 33 but showing no signs of succumbing to the dying of the light, believes two more “special days” should see the Toffees into Europe, and with their Merseyside rivals up next, and sitting in fifth place, they will have no better chance to lay down the gauntlet.

Last time out, they were made to settle for a 2-2 draw with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Tarkowski will know that he was at least partly culpable for the hosts’ opening goal, and that could see Moyes decide to recall Michael Keane.

Either way, with a shaky Liverpool seemingly on the ropes after crashing out of the Champions League, Everton simply must grab this opportunity with both hands.

Should James Tarkowski start vs Liverpool?

Moyes will likely have pointed the finger of blame at Tarkowski in private after his side took a point away from West London. While Igor Thiago’s third-minute penalty was brought about after Jordan Pickford’s foul on Kevin Schade, the centre-back was caught ball-watching.

It was a surprising slip-up that belied the veteran’s years of experience excelling in the top-flight, but it should also be pointed out that it was not an isolated incident. Even with Jarrad Branthwaite, his usual sparring partner restored next to him, Tarkowski was shaky.

Replays (screenshot below) showed the former Burnley man moving at a jogging pace when he needed to be much more aggressive. That hesitation allowed the hosts to slip through Schade, who was then clumsily brought down. Thiago made no mistake from the spot.

Statistics reveal that Tarkowski has made six errors leading to a shot and one directly resulting in a goal this season. That grand total of seven puts him at the top of Everton’s squad, with Pickford in second place with three.

The gap between them will surely be ringing alarm bells.

But what will worry Moyes the most is the fact that Tarkowski’s six mistakes before shots are the most in the Premier League this season, according to Sofascore.

Indeed, there have been a string of sloppy and avoidable errors. Ironically, one of the most glaring came in the 4-2 home defeat by Brentford back in January. His poor pass out from the back was snatched up by Vitaly Janelt, before he swung in a cross for Thiago to score.

These mistakes will be taking a toll, both on Tarkowski and, on a wider note, Moyes’ game plans. But equally, he has balanced them out with his frequently heroic defending. At Brentford, he boasted a 100 per cent total duel success while making 14 defensive actions.

The big question is whether Moyes decides to start Keane against Liverpool. He averages 0.06 tackles more than Tarkowski per 90, as well as 0.12 more blocks, 0.52 interceptions and 0.39 more clearances, and stepped in admirably during Branthwaite’s absence.

Tarkowski still unwavering Everton servant

Regardless of how the rest of the campaign plays out, Tarkowski’s cult hero status at Everton is already secure. That much was confirmed after he thundered home the stoppage-time equaliser that denied Liverpool victory in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

He was the first signing conducted by former director of football Kevin Thelwell, but arguably remains his best. The Toffees are believed to have elbowed away stern competition to sign the centre-back on a free transfer, and the effect on the dressing room has been seismic.

According to various reports, Aston Villa and Newcastle had also been chasing Tarkowski’s signature. In the end, though, Everton came out on top, reinforcing their squad with a player capable of impressing as a starter or acting as a trustworthy back-up over a long campaign.

Branthwaite and Jake O’Brien will eventually become Moyes’ first-choice pairing, but for now, Tarkowski and Keane are playing well enough to push their younger peers to the bench. The fact that the manager is in no hurry to make the transition is a testament to both veterans.

It speaks volumes that the club were so keen to hand him a new two-year deal back in October. His old contract had been set to run down at the end of the season, but now, his future is secured until June 2028, the least he deserves for his unwavering loyalty.

Now, he wants to play a part in the new era at Hill Dickinson Stadium and is determined to help Everton qualify for European competition.

“It’s the manager’s goal, it’s our goal as a team and we’ve started pretty well,” he told Everton TV in October. “Of course, it could have been better, but we’ve had a decent start. We’re striving to get into those European spots and bring European football to our new stadium.”

Thanks to his efforts, that dream is now tantalisingly close. However, he must also crack down on unnecessary errors, with the margins in this race increasingly fine.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.