Five clean sheets from seven games is the obvious number behindEverton’s unbeaten start, but there is more to David Moyes’ defensive improvement than simply keeping opponents out.
Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town brought another shutout and extended Everton’s unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions. They have conceded in only two of those games and remain unbeaten after their opening five Premier League fixtures.
That is an impressive return, but the way Everton have collected those clean sheets has varied considerably.
Tarkowski leads the way for Everton
James Tarkowski has been central to it. The 33-year-old has played every minute of Everton’s five Premier League matches and currently sits top of the FPL Ratings rankings for defenders, ahead of 146 others in the division. He has collected 43 Fantasy Premier League points at an average of 8.6 per game, with a goal and an assist also to his name.
Against Ipswich, Tarkowski registered 12 defensive actions as Everton protected another clean sheet. His long-range effort also took the decisive deflection off Thierno Barry for the only goal.
Jarrad Branthwaite is getting back towards his best alongside him after a difficult period with injuries. His late block on Saturday was particularly important as Ipswich continued searching for an equaliser despite being down to ten men. Behind the pair is Jordan Pickford, ever-present in the Premier League and already with another healthy collection of clean sheets.
Everton finding different ways to keep teams out
Not all of those defensive performances have looked the same. The goalless draw at Tottenham required Everton to spend periods without the ball, although Spurs managed only two efforts on target and generated 0.64 expected goals. Everton, meanwhile, created three big chances of their own.
Wolves at the Hill Dickinson was different. Moyes’ side had more than 60 per cent possession in the Carabao Cup tie and restricted their opponents to relatively little before Carlos Alcaraz eventually found the breakthrough in the 80th minute.
Then Ipswich. Everton had 21 attempts and generated 2.31 xG but put only two efforts on target. Ipswich managed four shots on target from 13 attempts and 1.30 xG, meaning Pickford and the players in front of him still had work to do. Branthwaite’s late block was the clearest example.
Everton’s narrow margins leave room for improvement
The defensive numbers are excellent. Tarkowski has started the season strongly, Branthwaite is back alongside him, and Pickford remains a reassuring presence behind them.
Moyes has also shown Everton can keep teams out in different circumstances rather than relying on one particular type of defensive performance. There is still something to improve at the other end.
Twenty-one attempts against Ipswich produced only two on target, leaving a game Everton largely controlled at 1-0 until the final whistle. Three days earlier, they had also beaten Wolves by the same scoreline. For now, the clean sheets are making those margins enough.
Everton have become difficult to score against under Moyes. Turning more of their control and chances into goals would make life easier for those at the other end.
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