Alious
In a candid revelation, James Tarkowski has shed light on the physical challenges that impacted his early-season performances for Everton, acknowledging that playing through injury affected his usual high standards.
The defender, who has been an unwavering presence in Everton’s backline since making the switch from Burnley in 2022, built his reputation on consistently reliable displays during his first two seasons at Goodison Park. However, the opening phase of this campaign painted a different picture, with Everton’s defense showing unusual vulnerability in conceding 13 goals across their first four matches, all resulting in defeats.
The situation was particularly challenging given the concurrent absence of Jarrad Branthwaite, who was sidelined recovering from groin surgery. Despite battling his own glute and hamstring issues, Tarkowski continued to make himself available for selection, prioritizing the team’s needs during a period when defensive options were limited.
Everton’s early-season defensive struggles, revealing how one of their defensive mainstays was quietly battling through physical setbacks while trying to maintain his typically high performance levels.
Alious
