Thierno Barry Matches Last Season’s Goal Tally in Just 12 Games
In an impressive display of form, Thierno Barry has equaled his last season’s goal tally in just 12 games for Everton. On Monday night, Barry scored against Newcastle for the second time in five days, helping his team secure a hard-fought victory at St James’ Park in the Premier League.
Barry’s eight goals in all competitions this season place him second in the Premier League’s scoring charts, with only Erling Haaland surpassing him with 13 goals. The 24-year-old striker has become essential for Everton, especially following Beto’s transfer to Fiorentina, leaving Barry as the club’s sole recognized senior striker.
Reflecting on his development, Barry demonstrated why Everton invested £27 million in him last year, as he grew up idolizing club legends Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku. After facing a challenging start in Merseyside, where he managed only one shot in his first 16 matches, he recently shared a video highlighting his struggles during a private training session last season.
In a stark contrast to last year, his celebration on Monday was exuberant, featuring a knee slide followed by dance moves. Barry expressed his satisfaction with his performance to Sky Sports, saying, “I was working a lot during the summer and now we can see the result. The season is long but I’m happy to help the team with my goals. I want to enjoy more than last season and I enjoyed my celebration so am happy.”
However, his goal did spark controversy, with Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle claiming there was a “clear foul on Fabian Schar” in the prior build-up to the strike.
Barry has established himself as a key player for Everton, leading the statistics for involvement in the team’s significant chances. Before this match, he participated in 15 out of Everton’s 24 big chances, accounting for 62.5%.
Despite facing criticism for his goal-scoring efficiency, Barry’s resilience shone through on Monday as he seized the opportunity for his goal—a straightforward tap-in with an xG of 0.995. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher remarked, “We know Barry misses chances, but we also know this season he keeps going and scores goals.” Manager David Moyes added, “We’re thrilled he’s getting the goals because you need your centre-forward to score. He has missed a few, but thankfully tonight he was on the spot to get the goal.”
