Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Analysing Everton’s Strong Start

Everton are joint top of the Premier League. Along with Leicester and Merseyside rivals Liverpool, they are 100% from 3 games under the guidance of manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Everton have been very impressive and have every potential of challenging for Champions League football.

In Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton have the joint top scorer with the striker so far netting 5 goals this season along with Leicester’s Jamie Vardy.

Calvert-Lewin celebrating his goal for Everton against West Brom.

Calvert-Lewin has been transformed since the arrival of Ancelotti, who has managed such teams as AC Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich. His form for Everton declined after the restart and Calvert-Lewin failed to net a single goal. However, he has started this season extremely well.

Just as i do when i watch Thomas Muller for Germany and Bayern Munich, i never watch Calvert-Lewin and get blown away but the Englishman seems to know where the goal is. This can only be a good thing for Everton. Calvert-Lewin has recently been rewarded for his great start to the season with his first England call up.

A Productive Transfer Window

One of the biggest areas of improvement needed for Everton after last season was the midfield and Carlo Ancelotti has certainly upgraded this midfield after some impressive summer signings in this transfer window.

Ancelotti was reunited with two of his former players as he bought in James Rodriguez from Real Madrid and Allan from Napoli to play alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure, who joined the Toffees this summer from Watford.

Carlo Ancelotti and Allan during their time at Napoli.

The first game of the season against Tottenham really showed this. Everton completely dominated Spurs in the 1-0 win. James Rodriguez was impressive on the wide right role and the midfield three of Allan, Doucoure and André Gomes completely bossed the middle of the park, with Allan getting named Man of the Match.

In the 5-2 win over West Bromwich Albion six days later, Everton were the far better team in the second half and James Rodriguez was particularly brilliant in this win, scoring one goal and assisting another. He also made an amazing pass in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, finding Seamus Coleman who set up Calvert-Lewin.

James Rodríguez celebrating his first goal for Everton against West Brom.

Everton were not exactly at their best and were fortunate with the penalty they were awarded against Palace but are getting the job done, which we have not seen since the days of David Moyes or the first season under Roberto Martínez.

Good Times Ahead For Everton?

Everton have got their identity back under Ancelotti. Whilst it is early days in the season and it is always too early to judge a team after three games, Everton certainly have shown that they can be a different team to recent years. They finally have the players and the manager to really compete once again.

Everton players celebrating Richarlison’s penalty against Crystal Palace.

1995 is the last year that Everton won a trophy in but the way the team has played so far this season, i don’t think we will be waiting too long to see Everton win a trophy once again.

Everton celebrating winning the FA Cup in 1995.

From their dominant midfield to their scary attack, Everton have the squad to compete with many teams this season.

In reality, i feel that despite their positive start, i think Everton will finished in a Europa League place at best. However, with Ancelotti in charge, Everton should not be counted out.

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