Everton have had a solid start to the Premier League season, sitting above some elite teams such as Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Newcastle United in the table.
David Moyes has completely transformed Everton over the past 11 months of his managerial reign, going from defensive stalwarts under Sean Dyche into an attacking side that can put most teams to the sword.
A key reason for that is his ability to make his teams well-rounded, only conceding 17 in the Premier League – the joint-sixth best defence in the division – whilst 18 goals scored has been enough for them to record seven wins from 15 games.
And former player Pat Nevin has praised Moyes for being one of the best in the league at what he does, as well as stating that they’re performing better than struggling neighbours Liverpool.
Everton v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Pat Nevin believes David Moyes is ‘one of the best managers around’
Writing on his BBC Sport Football Extra newsletter, Pat Nevin stated that Everton climbing up the table means they are one of the most unexpected clubs of the campaign.
But he stopped to hail David Moyes for getting his attacking trio of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye firing – comparing them to Liverpool’s expensive stars in the process.
Writing on the BBC, Nevin said: “Ok, Everton aren’t exactly a small club historically but the trials and tribulations of recent years do qualify them for the unexpected group, when they sat in the top five on Sunday morning.
“It will not have been missed by any Evertonians that they are, on merit, above their neighbours Liverpool for the first time in a very long time.
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Credit: Getty Images/Richard Heathcote.
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”David Moyes is once again proving what I have always bellowed from the sidelines – he is one of the very best managers around. The tactic of putting the creativity of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish together has worked exceptionally. Using those creative types all together sounds great theoretically but it doesn’t always work and certainly not right away.
”Liverpool’s Alexander Isak. Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz are a perfect – and far more expensive – example of the dangers, even if that trio will almost certainly come good in the end.
”So, well done Moysie.”
His final point rings true. For the cost-effective nature of Everton’s squad, they are certainly making a dent at qualifying for European football.
Everton’s attacking trio have returned almost twice as much as Liverpool’s extortionate forwards
Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye cost Everton a combined £60million – and even if Grealish is only there for the season, it still represents a strong cost-effective creative trio.
Liverpool’s front line of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, by contrast, could cost them up to £325million if all add-ons are met. Even the cheapest acquisition in Ekitike has cost Liverpool an initial £69million, which is more expensive than Everton’s front three put together.
That doesn’t quite tell on the pitch, though. Florian Wirtz has only recorded one assist in the Premier League as his shot was turned into his own net by Nordi Mukiele in last week’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland, and although Ekitike has six goal contributions after his summer move, Isak only has two in the Premier League so far this season – amassing a total of nine between them in the Premier League.
Has Dewsbury-Hall just become Everton’s most important player? 🤔
An overview of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's stats in Everton's win over Bournemouth.
Credit: Getty Images/Alex Burstow
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To put that into perspective, Jack Grealish already has six goal contributions himself, matching Ekitike’s output in the top-flight – whilst Iliman Ndiaye’s superb form so far this season means he’s on six also, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s impressive purple patch has put him on seven.
That is a total of 19 goal contributions between the Toffees trio, which accounts for over double Liverpool’s forward line at just 18.46 percent of the cost.
Everton have got transfer dealings wrong in the past but this season, they’ve nailed it – ranking above Liverpool in the Premier League table.
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