Kalvin Phillips’ England status secure at Leeds United

Kalvin Phillips’ performance at Goodison Park for Leeds United will be sure to keep him in the good books of England chief Gareth Southgate.

We saw last season in the Championship that the England manager was growing increasingly keen in adding Kalvin Phillips to his squad in the coming months.

Attending the 2-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday back in January didn’t deter Southgate from admiring Phillips’ defensive midfield qualities.

Before the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ even managed a Premier League appearance, he was handed his first international cap for the Three Lions in a trip to Denmark.

It wasn’t vintage from Phillips in a baffling tactical structure, but he’s done enough to warrant staying in and around the side.

We know from first-hand experience that playing Phillips on his own in the holding midfield role brings the best out of him, and we saw that against Everton.

A controlled 1-0 win for the Whites saw Phillips pick up Sky’s Man of the Match award.

A clean sheet away at Everton will always paint a positive picture of your holding midfielder’s defensive performance, but the stats make for a complete performance that Gareth Southgate will have loved from the stands as he watched on.

Kalvin Phillips for Leeds vs. Everton:

100% take-ons completed
100% aerials won
96 touches (most)
84 passes attempted
79 passes completed
10 ball recoveries (most)
2 shots attempted
1 interception
1 foul won
1 chance created
1 shot on target

Misplaced just five passes. 😳 pic.twitter.com/nIJbFqGJ4u

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 28, 2020

Not only did Phillips manage to win 100% of his aerial duels, he registered the most ball recoveries of any player on the pitch.

What will be music to the ears of Southgate is not just how he managed to keep the Toffees’ brilliant attack at bay, but how he orchestrated from deep for the Whites.

Only five misplaced passes all game is nigh on perfect from his position and eagerness to play with a range.

Never caught in possession despite facing an extremely energetic Allan for Everton, this was Phillips’ best performance so far in a Leeds shirt and something that should stand him in great stead both for Leeds and England.