Jack Grealish never really got the credit he deserved at Manchester City – it’s great for England that he’s been allowed to fly at Everton.
That is the verdict from talkSPORT’s Troy Deeney, who claimed David Moyes’ approach to managing Grealish is the key behind his form.
The former Aston Villa captain has been a figure reborn during a stunning first month at Everton since joining on loan from Man City.
Grealish currently tops the Premier League assist standings, having set-up four goals in just three top-flight starts for the Toffees.
He has become the first new hero of Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium era, winning the Premier League Player of the Month award.
It represents a remarkable and rapid turnaround in his fortunes, who had fallen out of love with the game by his own admission.
The 30-year-old became the most expensive England transfer ever when he arrived at the Etihad in 2021 for £100 million.
Grealish, who adopted Sergio Aguero’s no.10 jersey, clinched the Premier League title in his initial season before becoming a crucial element of Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning team in 2022/23.
Yet, issues with fitness and form caused his impact to diminish, leading to only seven starting appearances in the top flight last season, with just one goal and one assist.
On why Grealish has hit the ground running on Merseyside, Deeney exclusively told talkSPORT.com: “Timing, he’s obviously won [trophies] at Man City.
“People are hammering [him], but he never really got the credit he deserved at Man City.
“But you look at where he is now, [he has] a manager that goes, ‘Right, solid framework. We’re going to do what we do, give the ball to Jack.’
“And he’s going to Jack, ‘If you lose the ball, who cares? Do it again. Who cares? Do it again.’
“Now look at Pep, and you look at [Phil] Foden, you look at Savinho, you look at [Jeremy] Doku, you can go through it [City’s winger options].
“Anyone who’s on that wing, once you start losing the ball, he just sits you [on the bench], like, ‘Come and sit down, I don’t trust you.’
“And I think for wide players – mavericks and flair players – you have to allow them to make [mistakes].
“If they get the ball ten times and they make eight mistakes, OK, but those two that they get right will be goal-scoring opportunities.
“And I think that’s what David Moyes excels at with both Jack and [Iliman] Ndiaye on either flank. [He] just tells them, ‘Go on then, go do your thing.’”
Grealish stats under Moyes vs Guardiola
The stats all back up Deeney’s claim that Grealish’s natural flair and dribbling skills were a mismatch with Guardiola’s system.
He and Everton teammate, Ndiaye, sit numbers one and two for the most dispossessed Premier League players so far (10 and eight).
Grealish, meanwhile, was only dispossessed 16 times throughout the entirety of his 715 minutes in the top-flight for City last campaign.
However, his underlying attacking data, in addition to his actual goal contributions, all far exceed his 2024/25 output under Guardiola.
Grealish is up on his expected assists (xA), chances created, cross accuracy, and successful dribbles per 90 compared to last season.
Grealish is only going to get better at Everton
Deeney revealed Grealish’s current form is even more impressive considering the England international is not yet fully up to speed.
It means Everton fans can relish the first Merseyside derby of the season this Saturday lunchtime, live and exclusive on talkSPORT.
Grealish has an impressive personal record against Liverpool, having netted three goals and delivered four assists in seven Premier League encounters against them.
“The beauty for me that I see with Jack is, when they give him the ball, the fanbase gets excited – but the players do,” Deeney added.
“You can see the players go, ‘Oh, don’t worry, he’ll sort it out,’ and that’s what he had at Aston Villa, and I think he’s thriving.
“Obviously, he won [the Premier League] Player of the Month, it’s his first ever one, which was incredible for me, but I’m happy for him.
“It was his 30th birthday the other day [September 10], he’s officially in the old man club now, like me.
“But he’ll be in top form and I think that incentive of, well, I know this, he won’t mind me saying it – he’s not even fully fit at this moment, he’s match fit.
“So I think that the international break, everyone [is] talking about him working, it’s great for him, long may it continue.
“And for England, great! Isn’t that a good thing?”
