We have to admit, choosing Everton’s best players these days is a far more difficult job than it once was. This is a side fresh from a relegation battle, in which they came closer to the drop than ever before, and they remain in trouble this term.
The Toffees have installed Sean Dyche as their new manager as they look to stave off relegation to the Championship once again.
It makes for a difficult task when it comes to ranking their best players, but we’ve had a go at listing the 10 best players in their squad.
Let’s take a look…
10) Alex Iwobi
Yes, even we can’t believe that Alex Iwobi is on this list, but hear us out.
In the last season or so, the former Arsenal man has undergone a quiet transition into a reliable midfielder for Frank Lampard, and now for Dyche.
His passing ability has been shown off on certain occasions, too, as he unexpectedly rises up the rankings of importance at Goodison Park.
Since joining the club, Iwobi has clocked up over 120 appearances.
9) Ben Godfrey
Since arriving from Norwich City in 2020, Ben Godfrey has been thrown into the deep end of relegation battle.
But, he has far from drowned, instead learning to swim the ever dangerous waters of the Premier League.
Given his reliability at times, his injury woes have somewhat stunted his development.
Godfrey has only played four times in the league this season but he’s so good, he’s even played twice for England.
8) Michael Keane
Admittedly, Michael Keane’s form has dropped off a cliff at times in the last season, but, at his best, which he will hope to return to this season, he remains Everton’s best central defender.
While he did fall out of favour towards the end of Lampard’s reign, he will now be hoping Dyche restores him to the XI.
The two forged a fruitful partnership at Burnley, where Keane made 108 appearances, and he is a reliable option.
It remains to be seen if he will be back in the team any time soon.
7) Yerry Mina
The third centre-back on this list, it becomes baffling just how Everton nearly went down in the first place last season.
But, with Yerry Mina’s injury problems playing a part, Lampard’s side conceded 66 goals last season, the sixth worst in the league.
When fully fit, Mina’s influence cannot be understated.
He’s back amongst it though, and even scored recently in the defeat to Wolves.
6) James Tarkowski
Time will tell whether we regret putting James Tarkowski this high up on our list.
But, for now, we believe he is one of the best players in the current Everton squad.
He proved to be an excellent asset at Burnley, as they managed to reach heights such as the Europa League, before finally suffering the drop.
The defender can put that experience to good use at Goodison Park, especially now Dyche is in the dugout, someone he knows inside out.
5) Demarai Gray
In the first couple months of his Everton career last summer, Demarai Gray looked like a player trying to prove a point; like someone ready to burst into life.
His winning goal against Arsenal epitomised the start of his time at Goodison Park.
And, whilst he has since dropped off slightly, he still has the potential to be a key player.
In total, he has already scored three goals in the Premier League this season and could be vital to Dyche as his rebuild takes shape.
4) Amadou Onana
Amadou Onana was snapped up from Lille in the summer, with the midfielder deciding to reject West Ham United in order to make the move to Goodison Park.
He already looks like an absolute monster in the middle of the park, with his strength and technique setting him apart.
Onana has quickly become a key player, and was vital to Dyche’s first win, dominating Arsenal in midfield.
A constantly willing runner, the Belgium international is likely to climb this list the longer he remains in Merseyside.
3) Jordan Pickford
When your goalkeeper is this high up on a list like this, then you should know that the squad needs strengthening.
Unfortunately for Everton fans, Pickford has had to prove far too many times in the last season exactly why he is England’s number one between the sticks.
In the current campaign, the former Sunderland shot-stopper has again been integral to the way the club tries to play.
If they are to stave off the drop again, Pickford will have to perform at his very best.
2) Dominic Calvert-Lewin
If it wasn’t for his recent injury problems, Dominic Calvert-Lewin would probably have done enough by now to warrant the top spot in this list.
As things stand, however, injuries have denied him of that.
At the end of the 2020/21 season, in which he netted 21 goals in all competitions, Calvert-Lewin would have been on top of the world.
This season, he is working his way back to full fitness and has only scored once, but the talent remains.
1) Abdoulaye Doucoure
Abdoulaye Doucoure is, in our opinion, Everton’s best player by quite some distance.
This is a midfielder who could be playing at a far higher level, and if the Toffees can build their foundations around him, then they’ll survive relegation, and pull away into mid-table this season.
Of course, Dyche doesn’t have an easy job on his hands, but having a midfielder like Doucoure makes it a lot less difficult, especially when he can be paired with Onana in the centre of the pitch.
That is a truly dominant pairing; Everton just need to start winning some games!
So, there you have it, our ranking of Everton’s best current players. Do you agree with our list? Or, do you believe that we’ve left some players out? Let us know in the comments!