- Individual errors and lack of pace are beginning to hurt Everton on the pitch.
- Tarkowski leads the Premier League in errors leading to shots this season.
- Injuries have masked the need to transition to Branthwaite/O’Brien partnership.
For years, James Tarkowski has served as the beating heart of the Everton defence. His dependability, tenacity, and rare injury record has played a vital role in keeping the Toffees in the Premier League.
However, a noticeable drop-off in his performance levels across the 2025-26 season—most keenly felt in recent weeks—now has Evertonians asking a difficult question: Is it time to replace the vice-captain?
Bouncing off Brobbey: Costly errors creeping into Tarky’s game
If one moment perfectly captures the feeling that Tarkowski’s best days are behind him, it was Sunderland’s opening goal on Sunday. Spotting the danger, the Everton defender moved to challenge Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey, but instead bounced right off the forward and tumbled to the turf.
Frustratingly for Evertonians, this was no isolated incident. In recent weeks, Tarkowski has repeatedly cost his team with costly defensive lapses:
- Manchester City: Erling Haaland easily exploited Tarkowski’s lack of recovery pace to smash home City’s second goal.
- Crystal Palace: A total lapse in concentration alongside Michael Keane saw the pair completely switch off and hand Jean-Philippe Mateta a clear chance to grab the equaliser.
Analysing the statistical decline
The data shows a mixed bag for Tarkowski compared to last season:
James Tarkowski – Defensive stats comparison
| Defensive metric | 2024/25 season | 2025/26 season | Trend |
| Tackles | 64 | 46 | Down by 18 |
| Interceptions | 41 | 29 | Down by 12 |
| Blocks | 42 | 50 | Up by 8 |
| Duels won | 199 | 223 | Up by 24 |
While these are still decent numbers, there are the first signs of a drop off in certain areas. More tellingly, Tarkowski has struggled with individual slip-ups. He currently leads the table for the most errors leading to a shot of any player in the Premier League this season, with seven.
Why the status quo remains unchanged
Like Michael Keane, Tarkowski has benefited this season from a perfect storm of injuries to other players, and Everton’s continued recruitment issues. There is no doubt that had Jarrad Branthwaite been fit and available for selection all season, both Keane and Tarkowski would have been competing for a single position, giving David Moyes more flexibility in his selection.
Equally, had the club been able to recruit a specialist right-back – or had Moyes fancied Nathan Patterson – then Jake O’Brien would have also entered the mix at centre-back, the very position for which he was signed. Instead, his versatility has been needed elsewhere.
Next generation: Planning for Everton’s future
Branthwaite and O’Brien are viewed as Everton’s long-term future at centre-back, yet the pair have still to play together for any meaningful amount of time. That’s meant an overreliance on both Tarkowski and Keane. While the latter’s defensive frailties have been long known, this is the first season that the former’s have been felt.
Inevitably age catches up with all footballers and we might just be at the point where Tarkowski is beginning to slide. The hope for Evertonians is that Branthwaite and O’Brien can feature more at centre-back next season, or that the club enters the transfer market for another candidate.
Conclusion: A necessary passing of the torch
Tarkowski’s monumental contributions to Everton’s survival will always be appreciated, but football rarely waits for sentiment. The combination of declining physical metrics, costly individual errors, and the emergence of alternatives suggests that a changing of the guard is not just inevitable, it is necessary.
While his contract secures his future at the club until 2028, Tarkowski’s time as an undisputed, automatic starter might now need to draw to a close for Everton to evolve.
