Everton fans share clear verdict on Michael Keane as injured Jarrad Branthwaite misses out again

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Everton have their first win of the new Premier League season after beating Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton lost 1-0 at Leeds United on Monday night and wanted to show a big response against Brighton and Hove Albion.

This was the first Premier League game at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium, and David Moyes served up a victory for the home fans.

Recent Everton signing Jack Grealish starred, setting up the opener as he crossed for Iliman Ndiaye to score from close range.

Grealish also teed up Everton’s second, pulling the ball back for James Garner to rifle the ball home from distance.

Everton held on for a clean sheet, but only after Jordan Pickford saved Danny Welbeck’s penalty as the England goalkeeper capped off a fantastic day.

• READ MORE: Four winners and two losers in Everton’s 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion

Everton fans rave about Michael Keane

Pickford was key to the clean sheet, diving the right way to deny Welbeck from the spot after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall handled a shot from former Everton target Yankuba Minteh.

It wasn’t all down to Pickford, though, as defender Michael Keane excelled in the first win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Keane was strong defensively, marshalling his box well while even playing a number of fine cross-field passes.

James Tarkowski was a little shaky, but Keane was one of Everton’s big winners as he deputised admirably for the injured Jarrad Branthwaite.

Everton fans have taken to social media to praise Keane, suggesting that he was ‘immense’ against Brighton.

Others branded him ‘fantastic’ and ‘excellent’, and believe that he deserves so much praise, having been a scapegoat in the past.

Many felt that Keane simply didn’t put a foot wrong against Brighton and was much more impressive than Tarkowski.

• Michael Keane hasn’t put a foot wrong today, by the way, Tarkowski had a stinker
• Keane has been fantastic today
• Keane has been excellent, but no one will say it
• Credit where it’s due, Michael Keane immense today 
• Michael Keane appreciation post. Doesn’t come often, but was brilliant today
• Michael Keane was excellent. Again.
• Btw, Michael Keane was excellent today.
• Michael Keane was superb today, by the way. Tell him we love him
• Just wanted to add Michael Keane was absolutely solid today, didn’t put a foot wrong!
• Huge credit to Michael Keane, who is often scapegoated. Faultless display today.
• Michael Keane deserves all the praise today. Was superb. Many players were, but he deserves his credit too.
• Crazy to say it, but Michael Keane is getting better with age
• Michael Keane has been outstanding, btw. Gets a lot of stick. Been a rock!
• Big shout out to Michael Keane, who hasn’t put a foot wrong yet again

• READ MORE: Farhad Moshiri left £74m ‘parting gift’ that could now unlock David Moyes’ four Everton transfer targets

Michael Keane is giving David Moyes something to think about

Keane has now spent eight years with Everton, having joined from Burnley back in the summer of 2017.

The 32-year-old has played more than 230 games for Everton, but has found first-team football a little harder to come by since the end of the 2021-22 season.

Now often viewed as cover behind Tarkowski and Branthwaite, Keane has been forced to make do with a bit-part role.

Keane has stepped up when Everton needed him, though, and his composed display alongside the shaky Tarkowski may just make Moyes’ decision a little trickier once Branthwaite returns.

Moyes would likely go with Tarkowski and Branthwaite as his tried-and-tested pairing at the back, but Keane is knocking on the door with his current displays.