Alan Shearer reacts to Michael Keane’s display in Everton win

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Alan Shearer has told Match of the Day (broadcast on BBC One; 12/12; 22:40) that he thought that Michael Keane was magnificent in Everton’s victory over Chelsea at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Toffees got back to winning ways this weekend. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s first-half penalty settled a game in which Carlo Ancelotti’s men had just 28 percent of possession (via Whoscored).

Everton defended superbly throughout the contest. The home side’s back four was actually made up of four centre-backs.

And while Shearer insisted that they all deserved credit, he seemed to suggest that one member was the standout.

“They defended as a team, they didn’t give up any space. Keane, I thought was magnificent, along with the other defenders,” he told Match of the Day. “They just worked together, there was no space. They came up against a wall after afternoon. Everton, I thought, were brilliant.”

Looking at Saturday’s performance, it was remarkable to think that it was Everton’s first clean sheet in the top flight since the opening day of the campaign.

But the back five were outstanding. As shown by Whoscored.com, Keane won five aerial duels. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the only Toffee to win more.

Meanwhile, he managed a staggering 10 clearances. Between them, the back four managed 25.

Keane – who earns £65,000-a-week, according to Spotrac – has come in for plenty of criticism during his time on Merseyside. But he has kicked on since then and has arguably developed into a fantastic defender and leader for Ancelotti’s side.

And with Mason Holgate hitting the ground running upon his return, and Ben Godfrey taking no time to settle following his summer switch, it seems highly unlikely that Everton will have to wait another three months for their next clean sheet.