Stephens has started every Premier League match for the Seagulls so far this season, and the head coach highlighted the 30-year-old’s strengths and understanding of the game when he spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon.
He said, “Dale has been one of, if not, the best player for us so far. I think his level is really impressive and if I’m looking at last year compared to this season, then there’s some difference in terms of what he brings to the team.
“He brings a really good tactical understanding and he’s an intelligent footballer, as he understands what we’re trying to do. He gives his best all the time, he really wants to win and he’s been a pleasure to work with.
“I’ve always had good conversations with Dale and I like him a lot. He’s started from the bottom and worked his way up to the Premier League - he’s a no-nonsense character who’s very intelligent on the football pitch.
“The structure of the side has helped him this term and his role within the team means he has more of the ball. He has to make more decisions and be good positionally, he’s both of those things. The style change is one that he’s had to adapt to, but he’s taken to the new ideas really well with an open mind.
“He’s a good role model to have around in terms of how he trains and how he goes about his work, I really like his intelligence - often that gets overlooked in a physical footballing country like ourselves, but he’s certainly got that as one of his strengths.”
Last weekend’s game at Aston Villa saw Adam Webster score his first goal for the club, meeting Pascal Gross’s free-kick from the right-hand side during the first half in the Midlands.
Potter reflected on the topic of set-pieces, looking back on how his side have fared from them to date, before speaking about the tactical approach which Everton will take at the Amex.
“More often than not there is an element of luck in terms of goals from set-pieces. We’ve been unlucky in some situations where it hasn’t fallen for us, but last Saturday was a good one,” the boss continued.
“It’s an area where we want to improve, and we also want to keep that solidity at the back at the other end of the field and not concede.
“I know Everton have changed their setup around corners now, but they have some good powerful defenders and a goalkeeper who’s an England international. Marco Silva will have looked at the setup and at how to improve - that’s a process that we all go through, but ultimately everyone is vulnerable at some point.”
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The head coach also praised Glenn Murray’s contribution to the side so far this season, talking about the forward’s approach on and off the field.
“I speak with him and we have conversations all the time, I have a lot of time for Glenn.
“He’s been perfect with how he’s been as a professional around the group and how he’s been with Aaron [Connolly] and Neal [Maupay]; I can’t day a bad word about him.
“There’s competition and he’ll play a big role between now and the end of the season, whether that’s how he’s featuring at the moment in terms of coming off the bench or whether it’s starting matches - the important thing for him is for him to be himself, he has his own unique qualities which will be really important for us.”