Everton have started the 2018/19 Premier League campaign on a positive note and are performing decently so far. Their last match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was one of the toughest encounters of the season so far, and yet Marco Silva’s looked resilient in their approach against the only unbeaten side in Europe at the moment. The match turned out to be a heated affair on the pitch with the referee flashing the yellow card quite a few times as it ended in a goalless draw.
The Toffees have seemingly found the perfect balance in their squad, at least in the backline, with the inclusion of Yerry Mina and Kurt Zouma. While the former has made only two appearances so far for the Merseyside club, the latter has been a revelation in the Everton defence and have partnered well with Michael Keane in the heart of the defence.
With Ashley Williams already out of the picture and Phil Jagielka taking a backseat, the defensive duties have fallen over the young shoulders of Zouma, and he has done brilliantly so far this season. He has made nine appearances so far in the Premier League and has been praised by the fans and manager Marco Silva alike for his performances.
With an experienced campaigner like Keane by his side, the pair has made some significant contribution with their defensive skills to keep their team out of harm’s way on several occasions.
Last season was a disaster for the Toffees as they went down to the relegation zone and were not able to perform well under Ronald Koeman. After Sam Allardyce took charge at Goodison Park, things looked brighter for the Merseyside club, and they finished the season in a comfortable position on the league table. This season, under the tutelage of Marco Silva, there is a sense of urgency among the players as they are looking to fight for every point on the pitch.
Zouma has been one of the best defenders Everton has had in a long time. His skillsets perfectly match the requirements of Silva, and he has proven himself to be indispensable in the starting lineup. His energy and commitment are evident, as is his ability to keep the strikers at bay with his tackles and interceptions. This makes him a crucial element for Everton’s success.
The Frenchman is on loan from Chelsea, and it is imperative that Silva makes a bid to tie him down permanently at the club. With Mina, Zouma and Keane performing at tandem, the Portuguese mastermind can have enough options at his disposal and switch his options around to bring variety and depth in the backline. Hopefully, he makes it a point to bring the 24-year-old permanently into the side after his loan stay is over at Goodison Park.
