View: Moyes must make immediate defensive backtrack as 30% Everton star at fault vs Brentford

Michael Keane was sorely missed in Everton‘s 2-2 draw with Brentford last Saturday, as David Moyes must point his fingers at James Tarkowski.

Jarrad Branthwaite returned to the Toffees’ lineup to face Brentford in what was an important Premier League clash in the context of a race for Europe.

The Bees are one of Everton’s direct competitors for a place in Europe next season, and Tarkowski didn’t help the Blues for the hosts opening goal.

Thiago’s penalty was brought about by Jordan Pickford’s foul on Kevin Schade; however, if Tarkowski hadn’t been ball watching in the lead up to Brentford’s spot kick, the Toffees would never have gone behind so early.

Moyes has surely regretted dropping Keane, as Everton’s best centre-back partnership may not have been tested this campaign yet.

James Tarkowski’s ball watching made worse by stats vs Brentford

Tarkowski was booed by Brentford fans, and may just as well have been booed by Everton supporters in that away end.

Keane hasn’t put a foot wrong for the Blues in recent times, so it seems unfair but also unsurprising that he was dropped by Moyes.

Tarkowski showed his natural ability at winning the ball on the ground against Brentford, with a 100 per cent duel rate, but had a poor 30 per cent long ball success ratio.

Despite making 14 defensive actions in total, the most important moment from the 33-year-old was his lack of awareness and footballing IQ to cut out this long ball from Brentford, which led to the penalty moments later.

The Englishman was at jogging pace when the ball was there to be cleared, and as a result, Brentford’s Kevin Schade found himself through on goal as Everton failed to deal with danger.

The Toffees then conceded and were on the back foot from the off.

What has Michael Keane done to be dropped?

Keane should have started against Brentford, as risking Branthwaite again was just unnecessary.

But if the game has done Branthwaite well in the fitness department, then he should be tested at the back with Keane, who would have done much better against Brentford.

Keane has an average FotMob rating of 7.08, and discarding him was a mistake Moyes now needs to rectify when the Blues face Liverpool next.

He averages 0.06 more tackles than Tarkowski per 90, 0.12 more blocks, 0.52 more interceptions, and 0.39 more clearances per game than his defensive counterpart.

It’s clear to see who has been better this season.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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