Van de Beek earns rave reviews on first Everton start

Robin Bairner

• 12 Feb 2022 18:56 GMT
• 5 min read

Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek made his first start for Everton against Leeds on Saturday.

It proved to be a stroll for the Toffees, who ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane and Anthony Gordon.

Van de Beek was the major addition to Frank Lampard’s starting XI following a miserable performance against Newcastle in midweek, and the Netherlands international caught the eye with a strong display.

Latest news

Maresca already knows Chelsea's next 'top defender'

Man Utd plot free transfer swoop for familiar face

'Bullsh**' Alexander-Arnold decision slammed

Indeed, the statistics back up that suspicion. Van de Beek completed a game-high 34 passes with an accuracy of 89.5% - the highest figure of any Everton starter. Meanwhile, 21 of these were in the opposing half with an impressive accuracy of 81% in that respect.

In a defensive capacity, too, Van de Beek was an outstanding performer. He completed a joint-team-high four tackles and won possession 10 times. Indeed, he was the only Everton player to have gained possession more regularly than he lost it.

Van de Beek’s performance was certainly not lost on Everton fans, who were impressed with the first start of the Manchester United man in their colours.

Everton fans on Van de Beek

Former Everton attacker Kevin Campbell summed up the mood of the Toffees faithful with Van de Beek’s name followed by several fire emojis, a couple of stars and a football.

That trend was repeated among those who had watched the on-loan Man Utd star at Goodison Park, with many already expressing a desire to keep the former Ajax man on a permanent basis.

And unsurprisingly, Man Utd were unimpressed to see their man perform so well as their side drew 1-1 with Southampton earlier in the day.

Van de Beek is at Everton until the end of the season, at which point he is scheduled to go back to Manchester United.