Everton are beating Man City with impressive record…

Everton are beating Man City with impressive record and Conor Coady's emphatic response to transfer doubts

Shout it from the rooftops: Everton have the best defence in the Premier League.

Well, they have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, following Manchester City’s 6-3 win against Manchester United earlier today.

Pep Guardiola’s side dominated the Manchester derby from start to finish and went into the break 4-0 up. Erling Haaland registered his 13th goal in eight league games and third home league hat-trick in a row, before an equally outstanding Phil Foden bagged a third of his own to claim one of several match balls dotted around the Etihad turf.

But ever the perfectionist, Guardiola will be furious to see such a dominant performance end with three goals conceded. United’s £90million summer signing Anthony fired home from distance shortly after the break, and two lapses in concentration allowed Anthony Martial to score twice from the bench to take City's goals conceded tally for the season to nine.

And while that’s not a bad record, it’s not quite Everton. The Toffees were forced to come back from 1-0 down at Southampton on Saturday, but did so within five minutes of conceding, thanks to a pair of first Everton goals from Conor Coady and Dwight McNeil. The home side had their chances, but a combination of committed defending and a string of fine Jordan Pickford saves held the Saints off to keep their goals conceded at a brilliant seven.

Those values were encapsulated in a snapshot of last-ditch blocks at 1-1, as James Tarkowski played a loose ball to Joe Aribo in the Everton half. The Southampton forward played in Che Adams, but his shot was blocked by a combination of Pickford and Tarkowski before Vitaliy Mykolenko, Seamus Coleman and Coady threw their bodies in front of shots - seconds later, McNeil smashed in the eventual winner.

Not since the defeat at Aston Villa in week two have Everton conceded more than one goal, and prior to yesterday’s trip to St Mary’s the Blues had kept consecutive league clean sheets for the first time since May 2021. For all the focus on creativity and goals, it is a rock-solid defence laying the foundations.

That commitment and leadership is typified by Coady and Tarkowski, a defensive duo who look as if they have been together for eight years, rather than eight games.

Coady was told by Bruno Lage that he could leave Wolves - where he had spent seven seasons and played over 300 games - because the manager doubted his ability to adapt to a back-four. Now the 29-year-old is part of the strongest back-four in the league, according to the numbers, while Lage was sacked earlier this evening after just one win and three goals from their opening eight games.

Tarkowski was far more valued at Burnley but the end of his contract, coupled with the Clarets’ relegation on the final day last season, meant Everton could swoop in and sign the 29-year-old on a free transfer. The fact that Frank Lampard’s side hold the best defence in the league thanks to a free agent and a loan deal is testament to the work done by him and Kevin Thelwell over the summer.

Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson - who both joined in January - have also been outstanding, despite initial concerns over whether they could drop from wing-back to full-back. And even when Patterson’s knee injury sidelined him for the next few weeks, club captain Coleman stepped in competently.

The Toffees have a tough string of fixtures on the way, with Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle the next three. But they go into those games knowing they can keep it tight at the back - tighter than anyone else in the league, in fact.

READ NEXT

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here