Everton's main threat will come in the form of a former Chelsea player
Chelsea have faced several dangerous attacking threats in the Premier League this season, but their trip to Everton presents a familiar challenge: stopping a former Blue who has become central to his new side’s plans.
The outcome could hinge on how effectively Chelsea contain Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The England international joined Chelsea from Leicester City to reunite with his former manager, Enzo Maresca, at Stamford Bridge. However, his Chelsea career never really took off, whereas his move to Everton has given his career a new lease of life.
And fans could see this first-hand in an intriguing battle at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton boast the best defensive record in the Premier League, but it is the former Chelsea midfielder who helps drive their attack. His performances and numbers (although low) this season underline why he could be the man to watch when the two sides meet.
Stats don't lie
Dewsbury-Hall has started all six of his Premier League matches this season, scoring twice and providing one assist. According to Statmuse, his average match rating of 7.87 is the highest in the Everton squad, ahead of every teammate. He has also created four big chances, which shows his influence goes beyond the goals and assists on the scoresheet.
His most recent performance against Hull City was his best of the season. He scored, set up another goal for Thierno Barry and earned a 9.4 rating in a 2-2 draw. He created three chances, two of them big, and completed 47 of 54 passes (87%). That combination of creativity and accuracy is what makes him dangerous. He finds the final pass and also keeps the ball moving when Everton need to build pressure.
The underlying data suggests his impressive form is sustainable, particularly as he orchestrates David Moyes attacks. With 1.39 expected goals and 0.88 expected assists, his underlying numbers are broadly in line with his actual return of two goals and one assist.
That matters because Everton score far less than they defend. They rank first for goals conceded but only tenth for goals scored, so their attacking output depends on a small group of creative players, and Dewsbury-Hall is the most productive of them, particularly with Evertom missing Illiman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish. Stop him and Everton’s route to goal becomes much narrower.
An intriguing midfield battle awaits as Dewsbury-Hall goes head-to-head with Moisés Caicedo, with both players looking to gain the upper hand and dictate the game.
