Analysis from Chris Beesley after Everton’s 1-1 draw at home to Brighton in the Premier League.

There have been some transformations in Everton’s squad since Sean Dyche’s arrival but at what point did James Tarkowski turn into Franz Beckenbauer?

The legendary libero got to grace Goodison Park of course in the biggest game the ground has ever staged in terms of what was at stake as his West Germany side defeated the Soviet Union 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final in 1966 – controversially switched from England’s last four tie less than 48 hours before – but if those in the stands here some 57 years later were to squint their eyes then Blues captain Tarkowski bore more than a passing resemblance to a burlier version of ‘Der Kaiser’ in one extraordinary passage of play. Intercepting the ball in his usual centre-back berth, the 30-year-old took the ball upfield into the Brighton & Hove Albion half, riding several challenges on the way.

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Of all those among Dyche’s ranks, Tarkowski, who served him at Burnley for six-and-a-half years was one who you might have thought wouldn’t spring many surprises but this ambitious foray – in a game in which Everton’s opponents seemed to have the monopoly when it came to spraying the ball about – shows the kind of results that a bit of confidence can breed. It also relieved a bit of pressure from the Blues who were being forced to work relentlessly when out of possession, although thankfully ‘Tarky’ hasn’t lost any of his old ways as shown when he put his body on the line to make a crucial block to deny substitute Joao Pedro.

Playing without the ball

You know that you’re going to have to work out of possession when coming up against Roberto Di Zerbi’s side – Everton’s trip to the Amex Stadium in May taught them that – but while they were not rewarded with the same kind of emphatic result, the Blues still stuck diligently to their task.

Everton secured that huge 5-1 victory that shifted the tectonic plates in the relegation fight with just 22% of the ball and while honours were even here, it was a similar story as the hosts were calculated as being in possession a mere fifth of the time. In that respect, on face value you might conclude that the tale of the tape points towards a similar display to when Arsenal triumphed 1-0 at Goodison Park on September 17 when the Blues were restricted to 26% possession but in truth the two performances were chalk and cheese.

This wasn’t the same kind of toothless showing Dyche’s men showed then against Mikel Arteta’s side but rather a disciplined and dogged collective effort that the home faithful were able to get behind. The manager himself spoke of his satisfaction in how his charges adapted in this respect and while there was frustration that they weren’t able to cling on for what would have been a third straight win for the first time since September 2021, Evertonians could clearly see and appreciate the evolution of this team who were joint bottom of the Premier League when the eighth gaffer in seven years arrived at the end of January