New Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of his first Merseyside derby at the weekend when Liverpool host the Toffees in the FA Cup. In order to make his debut in the famous old rivalry a success, he must make sure he starts his two best full-backs, as Liverpool can be devastatingly threatening down both channels. Therefore, Djibril Sidibe and Lucas Digne have to be included in the starting XI from the off.
The alternative to the pair previously mentioned are Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman. While the Everton stalwarts have a vast amount of experience under their belt, the electrifying pace of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah cutting inside, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson overlapping, maybe too much to deal with.
In total this season Baines and Coleman have made 12 league starts compared to Sidibe and Digne’s 32, so it is no surprise the latter duo have combined to provide seven assists between them, and are the top two providers in the Everton squad.
But defensively the younger pair also outclass their more experienced teammates. The French full-backs have provided an average of over three tackles per game, while Coleman and Baines average 1.1 tackles per 90 minutes. The same could be said for interceptions where Sidibe and Digne average 1.65 per match compared to 0.5; showing the aforementioned pair are more positionally astute and better at keeping up with the pace of play, which will be essential against their closest rivals. The only area where all of the full back’s matchup is with regards to the number of clearances they make, both left-backs average 2.4 per game while the right-sided defenders register 1.3.
Though when it comes to attacking scenarios, there is no question who comes out on top. Along with having created more goals, Digne and Sidebe also play vastly more key passes, and the former is Everton’s leading chance creator averaging 2.3 per game. While the other French defender has created one chance every 90 minutes. Coleman and Baines have generated less than half the number of opportunities for teammates.
If Ancelotti wants to avoid a repeat of Marco Silva’s final game in charge, he must select his two best full-backs, regardless of which formation he utilises. They have proven themselves to be the only two players who can both defend and create in the Premier League, and an FA Cup run could be the only route to Europe for Everton next season.
