Why one Everton star had journalist ‘worried’ during their 2-0 win over Chelsea

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For all their possession and the pressure they sought to impose on Everton, Chelsea were a side completely blunted by the setup of the hosts.

It was the third clean sheet enjoyed by the Toffees in as many games, having crept past Nottingham Forest at the City Ground before welcoming both Newcastle United and the Blues to Goodison in the space of four days. 

They too fell foul to the same fate that so many have done this campaign.

Sean Dyche has worked miracles in reorganising such a downtrodden and threadbare outfit, turning a side from relegation battles into European challengers, were it not for their ten-point deduction.

Well, much of that turnaround is also owed to a number of key figures who have provided the spine to such a system. Jarrad Branthwaite is the outstanding example of such newfound brilliance.

He too enjoyed a fine afternoon on Sunday, but BBC journalist Dave Downie has now revealed one moment from the £35k-per-week titan that did scare him during the game.

What has been said about Jarrad Branthwaite?

Speaking on The Blue Room podcast, he noted: ‘The fact that we haven’t conceded either, I know we’re saying it almost every week about Branthwaite, I think I started to cry last night because he’s going to miss the game away at Burnley.

‘He basically had one leg left in that game against Chelsea and just carried on anyway. I was really surprised when we made the substitution, but it was Ashley Young that went off slightly injured, looks like a hamstring injury, something like that.

‘When Branthwaite went down I was really worried, the angle at which his knee, I was thinking please don’t buckle, and he was just down for about 5 or 6 minutes whilst the physios came on. And then it was remarkable how he just got up, looked like he just nodded at the bench, and he still didn’t look fit for the rest of the half, and I was thinking he’s not going to be able to carry on.’

What teams want to buy Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite?

The clamour for Branthwaite is wholly understandable, given just how imperious the 21-year-old has been this season.

A fast, strong, left-footed English youngster who could answer the prayers of many top Premier League teams, many have therefore been linked with a swoop for the former Carlisle United man.

However, the latest is Tottenham Hotspur, seeking to ease their injury crisis by bringing in the Everton ace this January.

Manchester United have been long-time admirers of his too, whilst Liverpool were even implored to sign the centre-back following October’s Merseyside derby.

With Newcastle United sniffing around as well, it is set to be a turbulent few years in trying to pin down one of their key assets.

Fortunately, the new long-term deal signed in October has offered the Toffees some key bargaining power that could prove vital in warding off these suitors or claiming an astronomical fee.