A look at how Iliman Ndiaye changes Everton's team after the top scorer was pictured back in training ahead of the Merseyside Derby
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Iliman Ndiaye has been described as Everton’s “magic man” but having been without the team’s talisman since the last time they faced Liverpool, what could David Moyes get from him in Wednesday’s Merseyside Derby?
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Ahead of the summer switch to their new stadium, Everton will cross Stanley Park for the final time next week, having secured a dramatic 2-2 draw with Arne Slot’s table toppers through captain James Tarkowski’s last-gasp equaliser last time out on February 12.
That result, achieved with the last kick of a ball from a Blues player in over 130 years of derby combat at Goodison Park, ensured the hosts did not finish with a losing record in the fixture at the ground.
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However, while the night ended with wild celebrations for relieved Evertonians, Ndiaye had earlier left the pitch in tears, having to be consoled by team-mates Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure, when he was forced out of the action midway through the first half with menial ligament damage.
Although the patched-up team have now extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to nine matches under Moyes, the Senegal international hasn’t kicked a ball since in the subsequent five games, but he remains Everton’s top scorer for the season with eight goals in all competitions. Ndiaye, who, along with Dwight McNeil who hasn't featured since the 4-0 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 4, was pictured back in training this week at Finch Farm, is the kind of exciting player that Blues haven’t been able to enjoy for several years, with his ability to get fans out of their seats.
His strike in Everton’s 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on January 19 – their first win with Moyes back at the helm – showcased his ability, but what other tangible attributes can be highlighted? Comparisonator’s Parameters League allows us to measure Ndiaye’s contributions against all the other Premier League players turning out in his position.
As you’d imagine, he ranks highly when carrying the ball and comes in fourth for dribbles (5.67 per 90 minutes) behind Jeremy Doku of Manchester City (10.53); Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United (7.81) and Matheus Cunha of Wolverhampton Wanderers (5.82) while his average of 3.5 successful dribbles places him fifth in the division after Doku (7); Kudus (4.75); Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth (3.71) and Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa (3.55).
As Blues supporters have also appreciated with the £15million signing from Olympique Marseille, while he is an undoubted flair player, his off-the-ball work is relentless, proving that he is no show pony.
Ndiaye leads the way among his peers for ball recoveries on 5.63, ahead of Cunha (4.94) and Dango Ouattara of Bournemouth (4.53). Having averaged more ground duels (6.67) than anyone other than Semenyo (7.24), Ndiaye’s endeavours ensure he has won the most (4.25), edging out Semenyo on 4.24.
Iliman Ndiaye's ground duels won this season compared to other Premier League players in his position
Iliman Ndiaye's ground duels won this season compared to other Premier League players in his position
Comparisonator’s MyTeam2MyTeam tool also demonstrates the differences in how Everton play when Ndiaye is in or out of the side. Throughout the 22 Premier League matches he’s started, compared to the seven he hasn’t the Blues’ dribbling is up 34% from an average of 16 times per 90 minutes to 21.45; successful dribbles increase by 58% from 7.43 to 11.77 and ball carrying goes up by 76% from 1.29 to 2.27.
With Everton having to be on their mettle as they tackle their neighbours who have proven to be the dominant team in the land this term – albeit having suffered a brace of cup losses before the international break as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain and then on the receiving end of a shock defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final – having Ndiaye back could prove a timely boost for Moyes.
While much of the talk around Anfield in the build-up to this game has revolved around Trent Alexander-Arnold seemingly closing in on a Bosman-style free transfer to Real Madrid this summer, the home-grown hero is set to miss the Blues’ visit with an ankle injury, an Ndiaye return would also provide understudy Jarrell Quansah, who deputised at right-back against the Magpies at Wembley, with a potentially stern test.
*Comparisonator is a football data comparison tool from 271 professional leagues around the world which compares players and clubs by utilising over 100 different parameters. Click here for more details.