Everton’s deployment of four centre-backs in the starting line-up helped them to improve their score in a key statistic they already top the Premier League in during their 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion. The Blues looked set for defeat at the Amex Stadium after Pascal Gross fired the hosts ahead in the 73rd minute but seven minutes into additional time, substitute Beto struck to secure a deserved share of the spoils for David Moyes’ men.

Captain James Tarkowski, who found himself in the unfamiliar position of being the shortest member of an Everton defence that averaged 6ft 4in in height, remarked: “Obviously, size and presence in both boxes are massive. I thought we had loads of first contacts in their box and it’s hard for them to pick who they’re going to mark.

“If they’ve picked to mark me, I’m the smallest of the four of us. That means that there’s someone else free elsewhere.”

Figures from Comparisonator show that Everton are both contesting more aerial duels (an average of 48.08 per 90 minutes, ahead of Leeds United on 47.13 and Crystal Palace on 46.33) and winning more aerial duels (23.21, ahead of...