5 Telling Stats from Everton’s Gritty 2-1 Win Over Crystal Palace

It wasn’t the best performance. But, who cares. Everton are top of the league.

Unchanged

3^rd league game in a row

You don’t change a winning team. And so it showed.

Expect the same line-up against Brighton next week, too.

First 3 games won

First time since 1993/94…

A somewhat ominous stat as the last time we did so we survived relegation by the skin of our teeth after beating Wimbledon on the last day of the 1993/94 season.

Calvert-Lewin = Poacher

5 goals in 3 league games

One of the biggest individual transformations under Ancelotti has been that of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. When breaking into the side and while playing under Marco Silva, DCL was known to run the channels and basically offer himself up as a willing workhorse up top.

The trouble was, finishing from angles and further distances was never his strong point.

Since Ancelotti has come in however, it’s been clear that DCL has been instructed to focus his energies more on playing inside the box and looking for opportunities to poach goals.

Indeed, following on from a close-range hat-trick last week, DCL grabbed his fifth of the season here with another classic poacher’s goal.

You can also see the pattern of where DCL is looking for chances these days, with 10 of the 12 shots he’s taken on this season having been directly in front of goal and ahead of the penalty spot (with the other two still coming inside the penalty area).

Understat

Understat

Sticky Toffee

Rodriguez had more touches (72) than any other Everton midfielder or attacker

Despite going off on 85 minutes, James Rodriguez had more touches (72) than any of Everton’s midfield or attacking players and more than any Crystal Palace player.

In previous seasons, I’ve frequently criticised Theo Walcott’s lack of involvement from the same position, which ultimately showed in him touching the ball the least amount of times of any player on the pitch.

James couldn’t be more different. He constantly looks for the ball and his teammates are more than happy to give it to him.

He also completed a massive 87.2% of his passes (including 4/4 long balls), made three key passes (most on the pitch)

Top of the League

1^st. Best. Everton. NSNO.

You’ve got to enjoy these (fleeting?) moments.