The Athletic’s Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland has recently discussed the Toffees’ crossing ability.
So far this season, Carlo Ancelotti’s outfit has been in stellar form, having won four and drawn one of their opening five Premier League matches, leaving them top of the table (per BBC).
Not only are the Toffees top of the league, but they have demonstrated their attacking prowess as they have bagged the second-most goals in the league with 14.
Of their 14 goals in the top flight this season, six have been headed goals, which is at least twice as many as any other side in the Premier League so far this season (per WhoScored).
During the latest episode of The Athletic’s Gwlad Tidings podcast, Boyland heaped praise on the Toffees’ crossing ability. (25:25)
He said: “What we’re seeing now I think is a real strength of Everton in so far as they’re getting [Lucas] Digne and James [Rodriguez] into good, advanced crossing positions.
“Those guys are so good with their delivery, [they are] among the best crossers of the ball in the league. [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin [is] among the best headers of the ball in the league, if not the best from an attacking sense at the moment.
“Jurgen Klopp said afterwards, he said, ‘I could hear the Everton bench shouting “yes” when James released Digne down the left for that cross,’ because it was almost like you knew what was coming.
“When there’s a sense of inevitability like that about something, I think it shows the fear in the opposition sides over some of the elements to Everton’s game but also how difficult it is to stop.
“Klopp will have been fully aware and the Liverpool defenders will have been fully aware of Digne’s crossing, James’ crossing and Calvert-Lewin’s heading.”
TIF Thoughts on Patrick Boyland’s thoughts regarding Everton’s crossing ability…
As can be seen in what the journalist had to say, he believes that the Toffees’ crossing ability is becoming a real strength to their game.
So much so that the Reds were unable to stop Everton scoring two headed goals in the recent Merseyside derby despite Boyland’s belief that Klopp would have been aware of the threat.
Do Everton present the most aerial threat of any side in the Premier League?
No, there are better
Yes, we are the best
With Everton’s ability from crosses clear from their number of headed goals in the league so far this season, it will be interesting to see if any side can find a formula to stop the side’s aerial prowess.