Jamie Carragher names Everton star James Tarkowski as ‘Best in the Premier League’
Jamie Carragher believes James Tarkowski is the “best in the Premier League” for set-pieces and has named his as the most important player at Everton.
The Toffees earned a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Monday night, moving them out of the relegation zone on goal difference following their ten-point deduction earlier this season.
But speaking before the game on Sky Sports Monday Night Football (19 February), Carragher highlighted the importance of the central defender to Sean Dyche’s team and also claimed he is the team’s most important player since arriving from Burnley.
“He’s the best in the Premier League for set-pieces,” he said. “Every time there is a set-piece for Everton he seems to get his head on it first.
“That can’t just be about positioning, it can’t be. But his actual power to hold people off. Being in the right position, of course, yeah. But it just seems like he’s a magnet in the box.
“Defensively, by a mile, he has been Everton’s most important player. Not this season, but the last two seasons.”
Everton need James Tarkowski to stay fit
The form of the team in recent weeks has really dwindled for Everton and it has left everyone in a precarious position when it comes to relegation.
But the form of the defence is continuing to impress and is largely keeping the team in the conversation for survival at this point, with Tarkowski leading the team.
The partnership that he has formed with Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been linked with a move to Europe’s top clubs, at the back has been exceptional and the fact that he is always fit and available makes him that much more important too.
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If he were to get an injury the team would be in a real pickle, but with his form as it is he now needs the attacking players to step up and start doing their jobs too.
If the team can continue to perform well defensively, and then start scoring goals too, there are definitely at least three teams worse than Everton this season and you’d hope survival is more than realistic.
