Pundit says James Tarkowski has produced a turning point for Everton

Add as preferred source on Google

Garth Crooks has heaped praise on Everton centre-back James Tarkowski.

Everton finally recorded their first win of the Premier League season on Saturday as they secured a 3-1 victory against Brentford. Adboulaye Doucoure, James Tarkowski, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin provided the goals for the Toffees.

Everton produced their best performance of the season so far against the Bees. They defended diligently, showed confidence in their build up play, and crucially, took their chances in front of goal.

Manager Sean Dyche will be delighted to see his side finally discover their clinical edge. His team were able to take advantage of their natural attributes well, making the most of set piece situations and imposing themselves on Brentford physically. 

Tarkowski was particularly impressive. The 30-year-old centre-back made crucial contributions at both ends of the pitch.

BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks was certainly impressed with the £100,000-a-week defender’s display. Writing in his Team of the Week column, he said of Tarkowski, “crisis, what crisis? Not if Everton keep playing like that. The urgency with which Tarkowski raced back to defend an attack in their win at Brentford was expected, but to nudge the ball expertly away from the oncoming Keane Lewis-Potter, who was about to tap the ball into the net, was a turning point in the game.”

“Brentford had already equalised and looked like they had Everton on toast. Had it not been for an outstanding all-round display by Tarkowski, Everton would have been nursing another defeat. The former Brentford defender didn’t mind celebrating his well-taken headed goal against his old club either. That’s always a good sign. I never understood players who scored against their old club and thought it was somehow a betrayal.”

Everton need more of the same from James Tarkowski

Everton need more performances like this if they’re to pull away clearly from the relegation zone, and Dyche needs his experienced players like Tarkowski to step up and shine on a regular basis.

He has the capacity to be one of Everton’s best, and most important players. He is the heartbeat of their defensive contingent and needs to accept and embrace that responsibility.

With young Jarrad Branthwaite playing and learning alongside him, Tarkowski must become a consistently dependable figure at the back. It will also be a huge bonus for Everton if the twice-capped England man can continue to make himself a goal threat when in the opposition box. Given his aerial prowess, Tarkowski ought to be someone that Everton routinely target in set piece situations.