On-loan standout
©IMAGO
Jack Grealish proved to be a crucial asset for David Moyes’ side once again, as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on Wednesday. This win not only lifted Everton to ninth place in the Premier League, but it also marked just one loss in their last five league matches. Much of this improved form can be attributed to the 30-year-old winger’s impactful loan spell from Manchester City this summer.
Following a period of limited opportunities with Pep Guardiola’s squad, Grealish has rejuvenated his career under Moyes at Everton, quickly regaining his best form in the Premier League. His goal against Bournemouth was his second of the season, and with an additional four assists, only three wingers in the league have more combined goal contributions than Grealish at Hill Dickinson Stadium. After the win, he remarked to the BBC, “I don’t think I played that well. And then Pickers [Jordan Pickford] came up to me and said, ‘that was your worst game and you got the winner.’ The fans were singing my name before the goal, so they wanted more from me, and I delivered.”
Grealish’s performance in his first 13 league matches for Everton marks a significant improvement compared to his last seasons with Man City. After his recent heroics, he now averages 0.50 goal contributions per 90 minutes in the league under Moyes—a figure that’s double his average from the previous season at Man City (0.25 per 90) and a 39 percent increase from his performances earlier in the 2023/24 season. Remarkably, it even rivals his peak form at Man City in the 2022/23 season, where he averaged 0.52 goal contributions per 90. As illustrated in the graphic above, this season ranks as Grealish’s third-best since he joined Aston Villa’s first team in 2019.
Whether Grealish could have produced similar numbers at Man City this season is uncertain, but Guardiola will likely take note of the winger’s impressive form compared to the relatively modest contributions from his current squad. Despite scoring five goals against Fulham, Guardiola’s team remains heavily reliant on Erling Haaland for both goals and playmaking. So far, only Phil Foden has matched the level of goal contributions that Grealish has achieved at Everton this season. If this trend continues, Guardiola might reconsider allowing the English winger’s move to Merseyside to become permanent in the summer.
