After tossing away a kind start Everton are now at the top of the rollercoaster, ready to fall, twist and dip into a frightful set of fixtures that, if they go to form, will likely see the Toffees begin 2025 in the relegation zone.
I am sure you all know it by now. Manchester United first up on Sunday, followed by a revitalised Wolves, the derby, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.
Ouch.
If you look at the positives, Everton won three of those matches last season and I will bite your hand off for nine points from that run this time. But Everton’s recent performances suggest that will be a big ask.
Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
After conceding nine goals in their opening three games Sean Dyche will point to a much meaner defence, and that may help when taking on teams at the top of the table where they are expected to have less off the ball. But that approach has come at a huge cost to their attacking output.
They have not scored in their last three games and are now the joint-lowest scorers in the division. With Dyche’s contract up at the end of the season and the expected takeover by the Friedkins a matter of weeks away, the club is stuck in a limbo of sorts.
A couple of quick wins would ease the pressure significantly and let us all have a slightly less fraught Christmas.
The opposition
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Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Manchester United have had troubles of their own but, unlike the Toffees, have bitten the bullet and changed the manager.
Out went Erik ten Hag, despite signing a new contract in the summer, and in came the highly-rated young Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim to much fanfare.
Like Everton, United have a mish-mash of a squad bought by a myriad managers, so Amorim has a rebuilding job on his hands.
He has been given an insight into how much work lies ahead with a 1-1 draw at Ipswich last weekend before a Europa League tie with Bodo Glimt that saw the Red Devils go 2-1 down before winning 3-2. They are not exactly flying.
United fans can though take heart from their excellent record at home to Everton. The Toffees have won there only twice in the Premier League’s 32-year history and not since late 2013. United have also beaten Everton on 41 occasions in the Premier League, more than any side has beaten the other in the competition’s history.
Team news
Armando Broja could be part of the squad for the first time this season after playing in two U21 matches following his recovery from a foot problem. Youssef Chermiti is also fit after a foot injury but is not quite ready for a return. The same goes for Seamus Coleman, who is over a hamstring issue but will not feature at Old Trafford.
James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are also still out.
What they said
Everton boss Sean Dyche: “I think everyone talks about a new manager bounce and all the rest of it, so it’s more difficult in that way of thinking, but they’ve still got good players,” he said.
“He’s a new manager in the Premier League, so he’ll maybe give a different feel to it. I’m sure he’s been working with the players and trying to get his thoughts across in the limited time period they’ve had, with having played last night, as well.
“There are clear signs of how he wants to adapt it, with different passing thoughts, and the way the team were trying to operate. That’s his challenge to get that to happen quickly, and it’s our challenge to make sure it doesn’t, of course, and to go to deliver our performance.
“It’s important to remember what we do and certainly to be ready for anything. He might change back – I don’t know – but it certainly does suggest he likes playing three at the back, and then maybe a variance in front of the three.”
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Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim: “I am hoping to win. It is going to be a different match. [There will be] a lot of fighting, long balls, second balls. A quality coach that understands the league and understands the quality of the opponent. We need to have the ball because we have a short time to recover with the team. So I hope for a win and I hope to see different things from my team, like we did from Ipswich to now. With Everton, [we will be] without training and I expect to see different things and better things.”
Final word
It is hard to generate any optimism given Everton’s recent struggles and their absolutely awful record at Old Trafford. A draw is probably the best we can hope for, but even that feels a stretch.
