The five dirtiest Premier League players this season
By Ryan Willox
3. Gareth Barry
Oddly enough, Everton’s Gareth Barry is the only player from the British Isles on the list. With 24 fouls and five yellow cards Barry earns a spot in the middle of the list.
Barry may have found himself a bit higher but since he has not completed all of the Toffee’s eleven Premier League matches this season his rate of a foul per 38 minutes keeps him off the top spots.
It is honestly no surprise that the former England international and long-serving Premier League player should find himself somewhere on the list playing, as he does, at the heart of the Everton midfield.
Everton have made the second most tackles in the Premier League this season behind only Middlesbrough with 222.
The aforementioned Gueye leads the team with 44 and Barry is not far behind on 35.
It’s tough to see any let up for Barry as neither he nor Everton are likely to change their style in the near future.
Avoiding suspension will be key if Everton are to maintain a push for Europe and that will be easier said than done as Barry has not earned a reputation as a hard-nosed traditional central midfielder for nought.
The flair that brought him England caps may be waning but don’t go lingering on the ball near the middle of Goodison Park.