Everton have somewhat surprisingly ranked top of Sky Sports’ chart of Premier League sides to have engaged in the most pressed sequences so far this season.
Defined by Sky Sports’ statistics partner Opta as ‘opposition passing sequences of three or fewer passes which end within 40 metres of their own goal’, Everton have engaged in 68 pressed sequences in their four Premier League games this season.
The chart, tweeted by Paul Brown on Twitter, has Watford and Chelsea as second and third, with 67 and 63 sequences respectively. Manchester United, Burnley and Southampton make up the top six with 61 each, while Liverpool sit in seventh on 60.
Twitter: This is interesting from a #THFC point of view. But who has the best pressing game in the Premier League so far thi… https://t.co/mu5Yeh9Q1d (@pbsportswriter)
At the other end of the chart sit Newcastle, Wolves and Tottenham in last place, with 33, 32 and 31 respectively.
So what does this mean for Everton?
It means that Marco Silva’s pressing game is working like a charm, more so than any other side in the Premier League has managed so far this season. Everton the type of team to dominate the lion-share of possession in one game and be under the cosh for the duration in the next, but regardless of opposition the club must work hard to regain possession.
Everton’s pressed sequence statistics show that their forward line is energetic and willing to chase down their opposition, which can potentially lead to defensive mistakes and subsequently, goals.
While there is no need to get too enthusiastic, after all a good pressing game doesn’t translate directly to points, it is a positive element to Everton’s tactical game that appears to be working, at least for the time being.
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