Michael Keane

Keane has been at the club long enough that supporters take the aerial work for granted, which is exactly the kind of defending that only gets noticed once it stops happening. He attacks the ball rather than waiting for it to drop, and the header usually travels far enough to clear the second phase as well. The long diagonal out to the far touchline is the other habit worth watching, because it moves Everton up the pitch without anybody being asked to dribble.

The argument against him has always concerned foot speed over the first few strides, particularly against a forward who runs the shoulder of the last defender. He understands that better than anybody, which is why he starts deeper than his partner and takes fewer risks stepping out. Whether it holds up depends almost entirely on the protection the midfield gives him.