"He, for me, at the moment, is the best English centre-half we have that is playing regularly."
That was what Danny Murphy had to say about James Tarkowski following his impressive performance against Crystal Palace. Tarkowski, Frank Lampard's first summer signing and a crucial initial step in his project to rebuild the Blues, has enjoyed a solid start to his career on Merseyside.
On Saturday, he was excellent. The defender, who teammates refer to as 'dad', as they also do with Conor Coady, fought to defend his teammates and protect his box. His involvement in the first half 'drop ball controversy' and his crunching tackle on Jean-Philippe Mateta seconds after being booked were key in this game. They make it into this overview of some of those moments that may have been missed from most assessments of an important 90 minutes for Everton.
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Smiling Tarkowski in the thick of everything
James Tarkowski loves the drama. The highlight was the smiling 'Everton dad' as Crystal Palace players squared up to him in the wake of bad tackles on Calvert-Lewin and Gordon. Tarkowski ran 20 yards to stick up for his teammates and was then the coolest head on the pitch as the chaos erupted around him. He picked up a booking for getting involved. Minutes later he was chasing a ball heading out for an Everton goal-kick along with Mateta.
Having just been booked he could have tried to shield the ball out of play. Instead he went in for an emphatic challenge that, not only won the ball, but also still won a goal kick. In the first half he ran 30 yards to intervene after the officials gave possession to Palace from a drop ball for the second time in quick succession. Play had been stopped for a head injury in the Palace box when Everton were on the attack. When it resumed, the visitors were given possession. Shortly after, play was stopped for a similar reason in the Everton box. Palace were again given possession. Tarkowski argued his case and was not the only one - Ashley Cole making his confusion crystal clear to the fourth official John Brooks.
Five subs used for the first time
James Garner, Dwight McNeil, Tom Davies, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Neal Maupay all entered the fray for Everton in the second half. It was the first time Frank Lampard made use of the option to make five substitutions in the Premier League - and a far cry from Leeds United, the final game before the end of the summer transfer window, when he made none in what felt like a direct message that he needed more support.
Every outfield player bar one takes a touch in 'School of Science' goal
Everton's second goal was 'School of Science' levels of magic. It started from a Jordan Pickford goal kick and every player touched the ball with the exception of Idrissa Gueye before Anthony Gordon tapped in after Vitalii Mykolenko's shot was pushed clear. It was a wonderful team goal and crucial to easing the nerves as Everton sought to end their run of three consecutive defeats. It also prevented Palace from changing the tempo of the game, coming seconds after Patrick Vieira had made a double change to try and heap pressure on the Blues.
Six shots on target to cast creativity woe into the past
No shots on target against Tottenham Hotspur. No shots on target against Newcastle United. A struggle after taking an early lead against Manchester United. The focus over the past week has been on creativity, or the lack of it, at Everton. The problem peaked on Wednesday when it was clear that, even with the club's most ruthless finisher Dominic Calvert-Lewin back in the starting line-up, he cannot score without chances being created for him. Everton started with intensity on Saturday and the recent issues were quickly forgotten - Demarai Gray testing Vicente Guaita within the first 10 minutes. Not only did Everton score three goals against Crystal Palace, they had six shots on target. They had only had two across the previous 270 minutes.
Crystal Palace player who lives Goodison Park's most charmed life
Few players must live such a charmed life at Goodison Park as Jordan Ayew. In the survival clincher last season he was extremely fortunate to avoid a straight red for a lunge on Anthony Gordon. VAR even deemed the foul as reckless and yet he still only walked away with a yellow card. To compound Everton's anger, he scored the goal that put Palace 2-0 up just moments later. On Saturday, he was again the villain. Somehow, to the anger and confusion of the home bench and fans, avoiding a booking after following a poor foul by wrestling Calvert-Lewin to the ground at the end of the first half.
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