Michael Keane enjoying best spell at Everton for several years

The attacking flair, which was on show against Brighton and Wolves, dissipated slightly in Everton’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. However, it was the best defensive performance that David Moyes’ side has put in this season, conceding just one shot on target.

​An xG conceded of just 0.31 was the lowest of this campaign by some margin. Even against Brighton, when Everton also kept a clean sheet, the home side conceded several chances, with Brighton failing to score despite an xG of 2.43.

​At the heart of Everton’s defensive success has been the ever-reliable James Tarkowski, but alongside him, Michael Keane, who’s stepped in for the injured Jarrad Branthwaite, has quietly gone about his business to great effect.

​Quiet has not been a word often used to describe the 32-year-old centre-back’s performances in recent years. Keane, who signed a one-year contract extension in the summer, often made headlines at both ends of the pitch, either for scoring worldies or making defensive errors.

​Keane joined Everton from Burnley in the infamous summer 2017 transfer window under Ronald Koeman. He immediately entered the starting XI and remained a consistent presence in defence until losing his position to the young Jarrad Branthwaite in 2022.

​His best spell for Everton came alongside Yerry Mina in the 2020/21 season under Carlo Ancelotti, but even then, he didn’t quite recapture the Burnley form that earned him his move to Everton.

​Keane has been too prone to unforced defensive errors in recent years. In his last four seasons, Keane made 0.18 costly defensive errors per start, which included errors leading to shots/goals, penalties conceded, and own goals.

​For comparison, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite both averaged 0.08 in the same department, despite starting more games.

​But that hasn’t been the story so far this year. Everton supporters were rightly concerned after a shaky pre-season at the prospect of starting competitive fixtures with Keane as a first-choice central defender, but he’s performed valiantly and looks more confident than ever.

​His average match rating across four games this season is 7.2 out of 10, according to Opta statistics. It's early days, of course, but that’s the highest it’s been since the 2016/17 season, when he averaged 7.1 for Burnley.

​He’s level with Tarkowski for successful clearances per 90 with 7.3, and beating Tarkowski for interceptions, with 1.3 per 90. More importantly, the error-prone Keane of recent years looks confident and solid in his decision-making.

​Rather than rushing out of the box or diving in to make challenges, Keane appears to be playing to his strengths, opting to hold position and only lunge in when necessary. This means he’s rarely forced into making recovery tackles or getting too close and allowing defenders to dribble past him.

​When the ball comes to him, he’s wasting no time booting or heading the ball out of play, or he’s picking simple but high percentage passes and letting other players dictate how the side moves up the pitch.

​It isn't pretty, but it’s certainly effective, and when surrounded by the creativity that Everton now has in their midfield, David Moyes needs nothing more from his central defenders.

​When Jarrad Branthwaite injured his hamstring back in August, there was little doubt that when he returned to the first team, which he’s anticipated to do in early October, he’d be one of the first names on the team sheet.

​But after four matches, Michael Keane’s done nothing to warrant losing his starting position, and an unexpected battle for the starting spot alongside James Tarkowski will likely ensue. Despite all of Everton’s headline-making transfer business from the summer, the decision to renew Keane’s contract is proving equally as important.

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