Everton stay at home for the second week in a row, but this week they will host Chelsea. Chelsea that without our point deduction would be below us in the table, in 11th. A Chelsea that is hit or miss with their performances, a Chelsea that still has not found their identity yet.
Everton rewind
Everton may have just played their most complete match of the season, a complete domination of Newcastle. From minute one to minute one hundred, pure dominance, Dyche style.
The first half would see Everton once again have their chances, great chances. The DCL miss in the first half still leaves me befuddled, but we kept creating more and more chances throughout the game. The first half would leave us feeling a little hopeless, usually, if we miss our chances it comes back to bite us in the butt. We were the better team in the first half by a large margin and the second half was no different.
The second half we played even better! We were still showing we were the better team on the night, creating more chances and spending quite a bit of time in their final third. We had 49 touches in their box…49 to their 23. With an xG of 3.36 and 49 touches in their box, it was only a matter of time before the flood gates opened up, and they did.
Kieran Trippier really had a nightmare of a game and it all started in the 79th minute. Dwight McNeil picked the pockets of Trippier and to goal he went! DCL did a great job of dragging a defender with his run which opened up space for McNeil to rip a shot. GOAL! 1-0 in the 79th.
Not much later Harrison would be the next recipient of a Trippier gift, Harrison pressed Trippier into a mistake and via a great dummy by Mcneil, Doucoure would score! 2-0 in the 86′. Beto would be the next scorer after Trippier held him onside after a 29 pass sequence. 3-0! to end the game.
Dyche has really instilled a fighting spirit and belief in this team, something we have not seen in ages. Bring on Chelsea.
Chelsea Vs Manchester United
Chelsea would lose 2-1 to Manchester United, a game of two falling giants. United from kickoff had a step up on Chelsea and had most of the possession. A penalty would be rewarded to United after Enzo stepped on Antony. Bruno would step up and have his attempt saved by a diving Sanchez. Chelsea would create a couple of chances but in the 19th minute, Mctominay would clean up a deflected shot and place the ball into the back of the net to take the lead.
Cole Palmer in the 45th would equalize off a bit of confidence and swagger, a fantastic goal. The deadlock would only last up until the 69th minute, Mctominay once again with a peach of a header after a great ball by Garnacho. After the second goal, momentum would shift and Chelsea would have the majority of chances but could never find a formula to earn a goal, the game finished 2-1 to Manchester United.
Everton key player
James Tarkowski, Tarky will be called upon quite a bit during the Chelsea match. Tarkowski is in the upper percentiles for blocks, clears and aerial balls won. He is in the 99th percentile for blocks, he’s a second keeper on the pitch, he and Branthwaite have built a wall in front of Pickford.
Tarkowski can also play well with his feet which could be pretty key to playing a ball out of pressure and creating a dangerous counter attack. During the Chelsea V United match, Chelsea would often send too many forward and create a decent gap that could be exposed with a quick ball out of pressure. I am sure Dyche will use that to his benefit.
Tarky makes it very difficult for opposing teams to be successful in the air. Chelsea will be on the ball more often than not but as long as we stay composed in the back we will be fine. We also must set a physical tone in the match, Goodison loves a hard challenge or a player getting stuck in, that is Tarkowski’s game.
Chelsea key player
Cole Palmer has been quite a buy for Chelsea, having 7 goal contributions within the first 13 matches is a good return for the money they spent. Palmer has an average of 5 shot-creating actions per 90 and in a team like Chelsea, one of those will be turned into a goal. Palmer has quite a bit of talent around him, they help him create space and he is similar to KDB in the fact that he spreads his passes out to create space for himself and then runs into that space.
Palmer’s goal involvement is 1.27 per 90. He is involved in most of Chelsea’s goals this season. He also likes to play direct and send in dangerous through balls into the final third but with a centerbacks like ours it should neutralize that aspect of his game.
Dyche has placed faith and belief into the fan base and into the players. The in-form Toffees are a team to deal with, this game should be 10th vs 11th on the table, a mid table battle. We can go into each match week with confidence and knowing that the players are fighting harder and harder each week, three points are coming our way and the climb continues! UP THE TABLE CLIMBING TOFFEES.
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