Everton’s torrid record against the top-six sides away from home made them outsiders for their trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, but they showed little sign of subordination to their hosts in a tightly-contested affair which could have gone either way.
It would appear that Marco Silva is beginning to find a productive formula at Everton. While the Toffees may have lost against Manchester United at Old Trafford just two weeks ago, they proved their credentials to finally transform their barren record against the top-six with a vastly improved performance against Maurizio Sarri’s well-drilled Chelsea side.
Granted, the Blues travelled to Belarus in midweek to face Bate Borisov and Europa League trips are notoriously damaging to domestic endeavours which follow just a few days later, but that should not undermine a performance which hinted that a rosy future looms on the horizon for the Toffees.
Richarlison was typically impressive in attack and Michael Keane continued on the upward trajectory which Silva has elevated him on this season, but it was the performance of Idrissa Gueye in defensive midfield which really caught the eye of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp.
In his team of the week column, as published by the Daily Mail, Redknapp was full of glowing admiration for the wiry yet commanding midfield enforcer.
‘Idrissa Gana Gueye is the best defensive midfielder outside the top six. He doesn’t just sit in front of the back four. He’s got great energy, wins tackles and looks to pass forward when he can. He is the unsung hero in Marco Silva’s team and Everton fans will be hoping they’ve got another Peter Reid on their hands.’
Redknapp’s claim that Gueye is the best midfield anchor outside of the top-six is bold but fair on current form. Against Chelsea, Gueye performed superbly in-front of the back-line and managed to keep the likes of Eden Hazard and Willian muted when they drifted into central areas.
According to Whoscored.com, Gueye made 2 tackles, 2 interceptions and 1 block at Stamford Bridge, and he also validated Redknapp’s claim about his desire to play the ball forward by making 1 key pass. By contrast, the conventionally creative minded midfielder Andre Gomes failed to play a single key pass all afternoon.
The comparison drawn between Gueye and Peter Reid is one of the highest compliments that could possibly have been paid to Everton’s midfield lynchpin, and the extent of the praise speaks volumes about how highly he is regarded by Redknapp.
In a side who have earned esteemed praise throughout the British media for their expressive attacking football and multitude of deadly forward-thinking talents, it’s important that Gueye’s sterling contribution in the unglamorous anchor role is both recognised and lauded by the Evertonian faithful.
Everton fans – thoughts on Gueye? Let us know below!
