Everton’s defence is now even more reliant on James Tarkowski | OneFootball

Everton saved their best performance of the Premier League Summer Series for last. After two disappointing defeats in New Jersey and Chicago, the Toffees put in a much-improved display to draw 2-2 with Manchester United in Atlanta.

The most exciting name in the Everton starting XI was the reintroduction of vice-captain James Tarkowski at centre-back, after several months out of action with a hamstring injury sustained in a home defeat to Manchester City back in April.

Luckily for the Blues, Tarkowski had the summer months to recover, but the state of Everton’s defending in pre-season before the 32-year-old's return raises questions over the team’s reliance on his presence at the back.

Before his injury, Tarkowski played in every single Premier League match for Everton since joining the club from Burnley in the summer of 2022. Across the last two seasons, he's helped the team to the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League, despite finishing in the bottom half of the table.

Last campaign, Tarkowski led the centre-back group in tackles, blocks, and interceptions per 90. He finished last season with a total of 64 tackles, which was almost 30 more than his partner Jarrad Branthwaite, who had 36.

Tarkowski also excels at long-range passing, which Everton often rely on to get out from the back. He played 173 accurate long balls last campaign, with his average of 3.9 per 90 leading the Everton squad.

In the five matches Everton played without Tarkowski at the end of the last campaign, the team performed well. After a loss to Chelsea and a draw with Ipswich Town, Everton finished the campaign with three wins on the bounce. The pairing of Jarrad Branthwaite and Jake O’Brien proved effective, resulting in clean sheets against Southampton and Newcastle.

However, there’s another player from that squad who Everton missed in pre-season. Ashley Young, who departed the club upon the conclusion of his contract this summer, stepped in at right-back for those matches, which allowed O’Brien to move into the centre of defence.

For all the criticism, often deserved, which was lobbied against Young during his two years in Everton blue, he was a reliable defensive option and showed it in those final three matches. Experience and organisation were just two traits the now-departed defender brought to the side.

Fast forward to July, and Everton entered pre-season without either Young or Tarkowski as options in defence.

The two players who needed to step up the most were Nathan Patterson and Jake O’Brien. Jarrad Branthwaite is now a known quantity. The 23-year-old has proven himself over the last two seasons, partnering Tarkowski and rightfully earning his place as one of the most exciting defensive players in England.

On the other hand, Everton supporters have seen enough of Michael Keane to know that, while he’s been a reliable servant to the club over his eight seasons, and is capable of a worldie on his day, he’s far too prone to defensive mistakes to be a reliable starting centre-back.

Patterson and O’Brien both still have something to prove. Since signing from Rangers in 2022, the former has only made 26 league starts for Everton and, with Young’s departure, it feels now or never for the 23-year-old to show he’s Premier League ready.

While for O’Brien, the question is more about his best position. When he signed from Olympique Lyonnais last summer, Everton fans were under the impression he was the future centre-back partner for Jarrad Branthwaite. However, the Irishman’s best performances for Everton have come at right-back.

Neither have acquitted themselves particularly well in pre-season so far. In those five matches before Tarkowski’s return, Everton conceded eight goals, kept no clean sheets, and the only win came against Port Vale in a match played behind closed doors.

Despite showing some attacking nous against Accrington Stanley and Blackburn, Patterson struggled defensively against Premier League opposition. He was slow to put a tackle in on Phillip Billing for Bournemouth’s first goal in the Summer Series, and miscued his challenge on Dango Outtara, which opened up an opportunity for the winger to get Bournemouth’s second.

As the leading centre-back, O’Brien struggled to organise the Everton defence. He also had an opportunity to put in a challenge on Billing, or direct Patterson to do so, but did not. While it was his misplaced back pass that sent striker Daniel Adu-Adjei through on goal for Bournemouth’s third.

In both instances, Everton were playing five at the back to give O’Brien additional support; when that failed again against West Ham, Moyes returned to a back four, replacing Patterson with James Garner.

However, this didn’t work either; Garner isn’t a full-back by trade, and was caught out of position for West Ham’s second goal. While O’Brien again was slow to close down the striker, giving Niclas Füllkrug plenty of time to pick his spot to make it 2-1.

Once O’Brien returned to right-back against Manchester United, his performance improved. Both he and the Everton defence seemingly increased in confidence alongside the veteran presence of Tarkowski, even without Jarrad Branthwaite.

There’s no doubt that, when fully fit, Everton have one of the best defensive units in the Premier League. But, just as this pre-season has cemented the need for recruits in attack, it should also serve as an early warning sign as to the future of the defence.

At 32, Tarkowski’s fantastic injury record won’t continue forever, and Everton must prepare for a future without their vice-captain. Whether that is securing a new long-term right-back, or committing Jake O’Brien to the position permanently and looking to bring in a future partner for Branthwaite, it's another area that Moyes and the recruitment team must reinforce.

Reader Comments (25)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

I love Tarkowski, the only bad (and I wouldn't really say 'bad') game he's had for us was the Bournemouth FA Cup game; to me, he cost us the game.

All was quickly forgiven though and he was soon back to his best.

Frank Lampard, who I absolutely loved, got a lot of things wrong at Everton, but James was a masterstroke. He's been an absolute colossus for us and reminds me a lot of Dave "Waggy" Watson, hard as nails and always pops up with vital goals.

Him and Jarrad are in my opinion one of the best partnerships in the game, but Sky and BBC would hate you saying that, it's obviously true.

I thought he was going to be out til October but, hey ho, he's back.

Ian Jones 4 Posted 05/08/2025 at 16:35:59

I agree that Young and Doucoure were leaders on the pitch and they did contribute more than people thought.

However, it was a sensible move to release them. Time for new leaders to step up to the plate.

Robert Tressell 5 Posted 05/08/2025 at 16:45:28

The hated handful of Keane, Doucoure, Young and Harrison were deeply flawed but certainly contributed to keeping a sinking ship afloat.

Hard work, digging deep, flashes of unexpected brilliance and a bit of nous too. Not to be sniffed at.

But we can now do much, much better now thank goodness.

Danny O'Neill 8 Posted 05/08/2025 at 17:09:29

We have missed Tarkowski's presence and leadership, so it's good to see him back. And until late last season, he's mostly been injury-free.

That said, there were signs that O'Brien and Branthwaite can form a very good future partnership. Still early days, and young players, especially for centre backs, but more than promising for when the day comes and what happened to Coleman, and us all, happens to our captain; the legs catch up with you. He still has a couple of seasons I him though.

Robert @5, Young was important for us last season. Doucoure had a poor last season for us, but some bright moments before that. A very unpredictable player. I'll lay off Keane as I've bashed him enough over the years. He just wasn't good enough a lot of the time.

Just a minor point on Angus's article. I don't think we'd played 5 at the back in those first two matches in the US series. It more of an Amorim's United set up of 3 at the back, 4 across the middle, with the wide players doubling up as wing backs, 2 in front of them and one up top. 3-4-2-1. The problem being, we only had one recognised centre back.

David @7, I would think that as long as Seamus is at the club, we'll adopt what is common throughout football. Coleman as club captain, Tarkowski as team captain, with Pickford filling in if nether are available.

Bobby Mallon 10 Posted 05/08/2025 at 18:58:28

Look, the younger players need to step up — and so does Jean.

Dale Rose 11 Posted 05/08/2025 at 19:23:30

My favourite player by a long way.

Love to see him as captain.

Jim Bennings 14 Posted 06/08/2025 at 05:50:52

Tarky is the type of old school defender you just don't see enough of anymore, proper throwback to a yesteryear and I'd love to see him win a trophy for this club and end this pathetic 30 year drought.

I'd personally make him the fulltime captain now.

Tarkowskl is good but can be badly caught out. It will take Branthwaite to mature and O Brien to get more opportunity in the Central defending role, by a good right back coming in, for Everton to progress up a level.Hopefully Keane makes less errors in a defence that is making overall progress in that area this season.

Tarkowski has been an excellent signing and is a great leader. Though he is probably more use in a bottom half team than a top half one as his distribution is not always brilliant and he’s just beginning to lose a yard or two of pace.

Next summer may be the time to spend on a promising young CB with the potential to replace a player who has been so reliable for us whilst adding a little more pace and progression at the back.

But for now I hope Tark comes back from his injury as strong as he was last season, his partnership with Branthwaite was crucial in giving us one of the best defensive records in the league.

I wouldn't say he's particularly pacey Sam, but neither is he particularly slow. What he is good at is reading the game and anticipating danger.

I know not everyone agreed, but I loved his full-blooded tackle on Mac Allister in the Anfield derby right in front of where we were stood. Talk about putting your mark on the game and getting the crowd going.

I agree though Sam. Although he's got a couple of good seasons left in him, we will need to be thinking about another CB, but that can wait for now. We have other priorities and defence is one area I'm comfortable with if they all stay fit.

Danny, agreed. He was pretty fast in his 20s given his size but just slowing down a tad as is inevitable in one’s 30s.

Yes, definitely not the priority yet though ideally a new youngster might have a season to learn that excellent reading you mention from him. Next summer I could see Keane leaving and being replaced by the next young CB talent hopefully.

I admit that Tarksowki is more focal and a leader than Jagielka ever was.Pace is a problem at Everton in that Moyes is going to want the defensive line to push up in support of his new completed Midfield trio.The player was got to provide the missing passes to the forward.This exposes both Keane and Tarksowki, both were found wanting last season in this scenario.If Crealish arrives on loan this would be even more so and a right back is needed to free up O Brien for a more pacer Central defence. Patterson is weak. Either that or Moyes has to blood his youthful transfers.

I don't think that Crealish is out of the question, since his other English option is Spurs, who are in disarray.Man City will have to pay part of his wages. Their attempt to front load the Transfer fee to cover this isn't going to work and European sides would balk at the demands.

Si Cooper 20 Posted 06/08/2025 at 12:07:45

The reliance on Tarks is simply the continuance of only having three quarters of the defence finalised.

The defence needs to operate as a unit. At the moment we effectively go down to half a defence if we lose either of James or Jarrad.

Jake has done okay but it’s hardly ideal for him to play that position. We get away with it when the two first choices centre backs are lined up next to him.

When the right back slot is filled by a proper top class right back it will be easier to deal with occasional absences from either of the first choices, especially if Jake can slot in.

We still all know that rightback position needs a better resolution, don’t we?

Twelve months ago Tarkowski, even when not fully fit, remained indispensable to the defence. People were understandably puzzled as to why O’Brien was not given a chance at centre back but the evidence so far suggests he was not quite ready to face the challenge in a struggling team.

At present Jake can best serve the club at right back. Although he missed a good chance the other night he has shown an ability to put the ball in the opposition’s net; something which is of considerable value in a team short of goals.

For Patterson I am afraid the word is never. Now has gone. He is just not equipped to be an effective Premier League player. If he had come through the academy ranks I think we would have released him two years ago.

Dave Abrahams 23 Posted 06/08/2025 at 13:25:00

Being honest I think Branthwaite needed Tarkowski more than Tarkowski needed Jarrad especially when Jarrad first came into the team, I believe that Branthwaite is now a much better player through having James nurturing him as his partner, Jarrad is a better footballer but I think he has learned a lot from Tarkowski talking him through a lot of his early days and even last season.

James was captain last season more times than not and I think his influence on the team is as good as Seamus’ if not better. I will happy to see the two of them lining up together at the start of the season because we need to focus on starting well for once and not playing catch up again.

Dave @23. Very true.

Every leader has a different style. Tarkowski is a calming influence on those around him and the team. He explains and points out rather than bark and shout.

I agree with you on the Seamus comparison, even though I nothing but respect for Donegal's greatest export. Tarkowski surpasses him in the captain role.

Both as a player and supporter, I've always preferred captains to be centre backs. They can see more of the game in front of them.

Midfielders are pre-occupied winning the ball back or creating. Wide midfielders and full backs, out on the flanks.

Strikers? No. They are selfish beasts and rightfully so, but they focus on themselves and complain if a ball isn't put on a six-pence for them. Two yards away and the arms go up in the air.

As for Goalkeepers. Avoid. Angry people who shout at everyone if they have to make a save. That's their job.

Obviously, I'm stereotyping and being generalist, but I hope everyone get's my point!!

Tarkowski is a better leader than Jagielka was. In someways similar, as in they weren't or aren't shouters. But for me, Jagielka was a bit too nice. Tarkowski seems better at organising and putting players right without criticising. And everything I've seen, he commands respect and is listened to.