(Credit: Imago)

James Barker

Mon 27 April 2026 7:10, UK

Idrissa Gueye put in a performance that was highly unlike him in Everton‘s defeat to West Ham United.

Now-36-years old, Gueye is an evergreen midfielder who has continued to shine for Everton in 2025-26.

He’s started all 25 of his Premier League appearances this season, and has formed one of the best central midfield partnerships in the top flight alongside James Garner.

Ever since the Senegalese international re-joined the Toffees in the summer of 2022 from Paris Saint-Germain, he’s continued to be a key performer for the Blues, and has been a seven out of 10 most weeks.

However, in Everton’s loss to West Ham on Saturday, Gueye’s performance perhaps revealed the first sign that the fuel gauge could be starting to move in the wrong direction.

How did Idrissa Gueye perform for Everton vs West Ham?

It was a frustrating afternoon all-round for Everton at the London Stadium, as they missed a big opportunity to solidify their position in the race for European qualification.

David Moyes‘ side went a goal down just five minutes after the restart, but looked to have salvaged a potentially crucial point thanks to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 88th-minute equaliser.

However, Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time strike snatched three points for the Hammers, in a huge moment in their fight against relegation given Tottenham’s win over Wolves respectively.

It was also an afternoon that saw Gueye fail to see out the full 90 minutes, as he was hooked with 86 minutes on the clock to be replaced by Charly Alcaraz.

Gueye was described as ‘anonymous’ against West Ham, and the numbers via Sofascore back that claim up.

He made zero tackle attempts against the Hammers, whilst also failed to make any interceptions, clearances, blocked shots or key passes respectively.

Gueye won only one of his five ground duels, failed to win his only aerial duel attempt, committed one foul and was dribbled past on two separate occasions.

West Ham’s left side of their midfield totally got the better of Gueye, with the excellent young Mateus Fernandes and tricky winger Crysencio Summerville making his day at the office a long and tiring one.

How Gueye’s West Ham stats compare to season-long numbers

When you look at the numbers in those aforementioned areas that Gueye has been able to put up this season, it becomes clear just how far below his typically high standard he was on Saturday.

As per Sofascore and on a per-game basis in the Premier League this term, Gueye has averaged 1.1 interceptions, 1.7 tackles, 4.6 ball recoveries, 1.0 clearances and is dribbled past just 0.8 times.

He’s also won 56 per cent of his ground duels and 52 per cent of his aerial duels, whilst committing 0.8 fouls per match and playing 0.5 key passes per 90 as well.

So, with only four games to go, it could just be general fatigue over the course of a long season setting in, but Gueye has played just 25 times in all competitions compared to his 40 from last term, so that’s perhaps not the case here.

Rather, it could be that Saturday was indeed Gueye showing everyone that he is human after all, and that his age might be starting to catch up with him now.

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