Everton’s weekend victory over Liverpool at Anfield for the first time since 1999 boasted a multitude of key contributors, but Ben Godfrey was one man touted for especially high praise.
BBC reporter Phil McNulty singled out the £25m summer signing from Norwich City for his immense contribution in the derby win and even made some bold claims over the youngster’s future. The journalist went so far as to claim that the 22-year-old’s versatility puts him in the frame for an England call-up, saying:
Michael Keane was a colossus in defence while Ben Godfrey, signed for £25m from Norwich City, has been a revelation.
He has excelled right across the back four, was outstanding at Anfield and will surely be catching the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate.
With McNulty hailing his versatility, Godfrey has featured both as a left and right-back during the current campaign beyond his natural role as a centre-half.
Keeping a clean sheet against free-flowing Liverpool is no small task, and a fluid back three of Godfrey, Michael Keane and Mason Holgate more than faced up to the challenge posed by the Reds.
Michael Keane won the fan-voted Man of the Match award, but Godfrey supplemented his defensive colleague superbly.
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Godfrey and Keane are a sporting partnership proving as natural as their musical homonyms in Godley and Creme.
Beyond the superficial, Godfrey’s energy and tenacity in working with a variety of defensive systems, roles and personnel has made him a swift mainstay of Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
He has started in the majority of league games for Everton this season and is evidently garnering the faith and selection consistency that Ancelotti feels he is able to place in the homegrown talent.
As for an England claim, McNulty is right; Godfrey’s form and versatility is too hard to ignore and he could muscle in as a utility defender to Southgate’s upcoming squads.
