The attacking flair, which was on show against Brighton and Wolves, dissipated slightly in Everton’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. However, it was the best defensive performance that David Moyes’ side has put in this season, conceding just one shot on target.

​An xG conceded of just 0.31 was the lowest of this campaign by some margin. Even against Brighton, when Everton also kept a clean sheet, the home side conceded several chances, with Brighton failing to score despite an xG of 2.43.

​At the heart of Everton’s defensive success has been the ever-reliable James Tarkowski, but alongside him, Michael Keane, who’s stepped in for the injured Jarrad Branthwaite, has quietly gone about his business to great effect.

​Quiet has not been a word often used to describe the 32-year-old centre-back’s performances in recent years. Keane, who signed a one-year contract extension in the summer, often made headlines at both ends of the pitch, either for scoring worldies or making defensive errors.

​Keane joined Everton from Burnley in the infamous summer 2017 transfer window under Ronald Koeman. He immediately entered the starting XI and remained a consistent presence in defence until losing his position to the young Jarrad Branthwaite in 2022.

​His best spell for Everton came alongside Yerry Mina in the 2020/21 season under Carlo Ancelotti, but even then, he didn’t quite recapture the Burnley form that earned him his move to Everton.

​Keane has been too prone to unforced defensive errors in recent years. In his last four seasons, Keane made 0.18 costly defensive errors per start, which included errors leading to shots/goals, penalties conceded, and own goals.

​For comparison, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite both averaged 0.08 in the same department, despite starting more games.

​But that hasn’t been the story so far this year. Everton supporters were rightly concerned after a shaky pre-season at the prospect of starting competitive fixtures with Keane as a first-choice central defender, but he’s performed valiantly and looks more confident than ever.

​His average match rating across four games this season is 7.2 out of 10, according to Opta statistics. It's early days, of course, but that’s the highest it’s been since the 2016/17 season, when he averaged 7.1 for Burnley.

​He’s level with Tarkowski for successful clearances per 90 with 7.3, and beating Tarkowski for interceptions, with 1.3 per 90. More importantly, the error-prone Keane of recent years looks confident and solid in his decision-making.

​Rather than rushing out of the box or diving in to make challenges, Keane appears to be playing to his strengths, opting to hold position and only lunge in when necessary. This means he’s rarely forced into making recovery tackles or getting too close and allowing defenders to dribble past him.

​When the ball comes to him, he’s wasting no time booting or heading the ball out of play, or he’s picking simple but high percentage passes and letting other players dictate how the side moves up the pitch.

​It isn't pretty, but it’s certainly effective, and when surrounded by the creativity that Everton now has in their midfield, David Moyes needs nothing more from his central defenders.

​When Jarrad Branthwaite injured his hamstring back in August, there was little doubt that when he returned to the first team, which he’s anticipated to do in early October, he’d be one of the first names on the team sheet.

​But after four matches, Michael Keane’s done nothing to warrant losing his starting position, and an unexpected battle for the starting spot alongside James Tarkowski will likely ensue. Despite all of Everton’s headline-making transfer business from the summer, the decision to renew Keane’s contract is proving equally as important.

Reader Comments (9)

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Jeff Spiers
1 Posted 14/09/2025 at 15:44:52
Stick him upfront
Mike Powell
2 Posted 14/09/2025 at 15:59:10
He as been outstanding,keep it going Michael
Lee Courtliff
3 Posted 14/09/2025 at 17:31:02
If Mykolenko continues to struggle with injury, we could well see Branthwaite at left-back, with Keane and Tarkowski in the middle.

That would be the tallest back 4 in Premier League history?

Scott Hamilton
4 Posted 14/09/2025 at 17:37:43
Lee (3) - The irony is that Branthwaite is also out injured and is a recurring worry, just like Mykolenko.

My concern is that, rather than just needing a left-back and right-back, we'll end up needing a new first-choice back 4.

Tarkowski was better yesterday but has been error-prone in prior games. Keane has played out of his skin but it says a lot about our lack of defensive options if he's first choice.

Mike Gaynes
5 Posted 14/09/2025 at 18:51:27
This is the best stretch of Keane's career IMO. Famously diffident player now performing with complete confidence, maintaining solid positioning and asserting himself in every challenge.

Great credit to him -- and to Moyes.

Peter Mills
6 Posted 14/09/2025 at 20:17:44
Keane is a player who needs to develop confidence, mistakes seem to hit him hard.

He was excellent on Saturday. His weak points are crosses drifting over his head, and speed of turning. He wasn't troubled on those fronts against Villa.

Well done to him, he has started the season well, although I wouldn't want him to be first choice for the next 9 months.

Craig Scott
7 Posted 14/09/2025 at 21:20:54
I'm cautious about the current praise for Keane. I think that our currently improved possession and threat from midfield has so far relieved a lot of the pressure on our central defence.

Last season, our midfield could barely string two passes together and we were very susceptible to the press from even ordinary teams. That exposed the frailties in our defence which haven't as yet been tested as much by mediocre opposition to date.

I don't think that Keane's weaknesses have been addressed as much as our improved midfield presence. We'll encounter much more threat from better teams in games to come to really gauge whether his game has improved or not.

He's taken a fair share of stick over a long period, that's for sure, but my big reservation with Keane is his lack of pace and I don't believe he's suddenly found more of that in the last few games.

Andrew James
8 Posted 14/09/2025 at 23:35:32
I'd hoped that when Mina came to us, we'd have a centre back pairing who would dominate both boxes.

That never happened of course because Mina was made of glass and Keane became anxious.

David Moyes gets a lot out of his centre halves, see Jags, Distin and Lescott. It looks like he's achieving the same with Keane and long may it continue!

Micky Norman
9 Posted 15/09/2025 at 08:14:38
0.18 costly defensive errors per start.
7.3 clearances
1.3 interceptions.
Well I never!

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