Everton continued their impressive start to the 2026/27 campaign with a 1-0 win over newly-promoted Ipswich Town at the Hill Dickinson in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Thierno Barry’s goal in the 11th minute of the match was enough to secure all three points for the home side, who created five ‘big chances’ and 2.31 xG in the game.
The French striker did have the ball in the back of the net for a second time just before the hour mark, only for the goal to be disallowed due to Brennan Johnson allegedly interfering with play in an offside position.
Whilst David Moyes will be delighted to pick up the three points and keep a clean sheet, the Scottish manager may still want more from some of his players, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
How Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struggled against Ipswich
The former Leicester City star lined up in the number ten position for the Toffees for his fifth successive start in the Premier League this season, but he failed to make an impact at the top end of the pitch.
|
Vs Ipswich |
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
89 |
|
Key passes |
2 |
|
Big chances created |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Successful dribbles |
0 |
|
Shots |
6 |
|
Shots on target |
0 |
|
Big chances missed |
1 |
Dewsbury-Hall had several presentable opportunities to work Christian Walton in the Ipswich goal, only to fail to hit the target with all six of his efforts on goal, the most shots taken by any player on the pitch.
The left-footed attacker has now gone six matches without a goal or an assist in all competitions, despite playing as a number ten, and has only scored one goal in his last 11 games for Everton, stretching back to last season.
Dewsbury-Hall’s last goal for the club came in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season, and he has not found his shooting boots since then.
The English midfielder had a claim to be Moyes’ best player after he produced eight goals and four assists in the Premier League last season, but his struggles so far this term suggest that one of his teammates has overtaken him.
Everton’s best player dominated Ipswich
Whilst Dewsbury-Hall did not deliver his finest performance against the Tractor Boys, one of Everton’s stars proved that he is now the club’s best and most important player.
Moyes lined the team up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Dewsbury-Hall in the number ten role, and the centre-back pairing was Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski.
Thomas Tuchel named the former in his latest England squad on Friday, ahead of the upcoming international break, and the left-footed defender once again showed why he deserves to play at the highest level.
The Three Lions boss will not regret his decision on the evidence of Branthwaite’s performance against Ipswich, as he caught the eye with a dominant defensive display.
He helped the Toffees to keep a clean sheet against the newly-promoted side by making the most defensive contributions (14), the most clearances (10), and the most blocks (two) to protect Jordan Pickford’s goal.
His defensive dominance turned out to be vitally important because Everton only scored one goal and one defensive slip-up would have cost them two points.
|
Vs Ipswich |
Jarrad Branthwaite |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
|
Defensive contributions |
14 |
|
Clearances |
10 |
|
Interceptions |
2 |
|
Blocks |
2 |
|
Ball recoveries |
3 |
|
Duels won |
4 |
|
Dribbled past |
0x |
Ipswich found it impossible to get past Branthwaite, as he was not dribbled past a single time, whilst he also blocked two of their shots and cleared ten of their balls into the box.
The 24-year-old titan is very quickly becoming Moyes’ best player with the quality of his performances in the centre-back position, aided by Dewsbury-Hall’s regression as an attacking force.
Branthwaite was limited to ten appearances in the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign, due to injury, but he has already started five times in the division this season.
The England international has helped Everton to keep three clean sheets and avoid any defeats in those five games, whilst winning 57% of his ground duels and 68% of his aerial contests.
His terrific defending and calm play in possession have played a key role in the team’s unbeaten start to the season, as evidenced by his sublime performance against Ipswich, and long may it continue.
Branthwaite has a solid claim to be the best player in the team, due to the quality of his defending and the team’s defensive record, and it is now down to him to keep it going for the remainder of the campaign.
