Everton’s 5-1 demolition job of Brighton & Hove Albion was a master class of counter-attacking football but just how hard did the Blues work to achieve what was just their second away win of the season?
As well as being a huge boost to morale, the victory lifted Sean Dyche’s side out of the relegation zone with three games to go. The emphatic scoreline was achieved despite Everton having just 22% possession and an examination of Comparisonator’s Parameters League highlights several other figures that demonstrate how the result was achieved.
Although Jordan Pickford was largely untested in the first half, the Blues goalkeeper had to make a string of world class saves after the break, while those in front of him were also putting in a shift. Everton already average the most interceptions per 90 minutes of any team in the Premier League at 57.63 but they produced a staggering 85 at the Amex Stadium to top the division over the round of matches, some 27 more than next highest Wolverhampton Wanderers (58) in their 1-0 win over Aston Villa.
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The recalled Yerry Mina, playing his first game under Dyche led the way in this respect with his 17 interceptions the most of any Premier League centre-back over the weekend, ahead of Maximilian Wober of Leeds United (14). Another player starting for the first time since the change of manager was Nathan Patterson and his 10 interceptions were the most of any right-back with Serge Aurier on nine.
The Scot also topped the division for defensive actions (37) and successful defensive actions (21) while on the other flank, left-back Vitalii Mykolenko’s 11 interceptions were the most with Manchester United’s Luke Shaw on nine. The pair shared top spot for the most defensive actions (27) while Mykolenko (18) was second to the England international (20) for successful defensive actions.
Abdoulaye Doucoure caught the eye with his two goals but the midfielder's graft off the ball also stood out. Doucoure's 25 defensive actions were the most in his position, to top Alexis Mac Allister of Brighton & Hove Albion on 19 while he led the way for ball recoveries (five), ahead of Matheus Nunes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta who had four apiece.
Going forward, left winger Dwight McNeil was in first place in half a dozen different offensive parameters out of those playing in his position: goals (two, along with Fulham’s Willian and Harvey Barnes of Leicester City); assists (one, several); shot assists (three); successful attacking actions (10); touches in the box (eight) and expected goals (1.11). On top of that, Dominic Calvert-Lewin won the most aerial duels of any striker (10) ahead of West Ham United’s Michail Antonio (8).
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.
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