Everton: Don’t overlook Stoke City

Facing a tough early-season fixture list, it is imperative Everton start the 2017/18 league campaign with three points versus Stoke City.

Everton enter the new Premier League campaign with high expectations. In fact, you can argue there hasn’t been this much anticipation for a season, at any point in the last 20 years.

Regardless, Evertonians are excited for what lies ahead in the coming months. In this respect, August will be extremely important.

The Blues face away fixtures versus Manchester City and Chelsea. They will also have to contend with a two-legged affair against Hajduk Split, which will determine if they advance to the Europe League group stage.

As such, Everton could be forgiven for almost looking past Saturday’s game with Stoke City. This would be a huge mistake.

Yes, playing the Potters is probably the least ‘glamorous’ game on the fixture list for August. Further, they finished in 13th place last season.

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However, this will still be the first game of the Premier League season, taking place before a packed Goodison Park crowd. Starting off the 2017/18 campaign with a draw — or even a loss — would immediately take the wind out of everyone’s sails.

Apart from this, every point will be vital in the Blues’ quest for a top four spot. Especially so early in the season, with league games versus City and Chelsea.

And we haven’t even mentioned the first two league encounters on their September fixture list – Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. It’s conceivable the Toffees will have few points after their first five league games of the season, making Saturday’s league opener versus Stoke even more vital

From Stoke’s perspective, one man who believes they could be facing Everton at the ideal time, is their former (two-time) manager, Lou Macari. The former Scotland international shared his thoughts in a column for The Stoke Sentinel:

"Everton have been spending like never before after bringing in so many early summer signings for big fees by their standards. With that expenditure comes expectation, however, and with expectation comes pressure.That Goodison Park crowd will be expecting big things from the off against the Stoke Citys of this world and so it’s imperative Stoke get off to a good start. Do that and that pressure will grow on the home side, but if not it could be a very long afternoon."

At the weekend, we noted how Everton responded well late on versus Sevilla. Despite facing the end of their unbeaten pre-season record, they showed resiliency and raised the tempo, leading to the equalising goal in the 81st minute.

Of course, a friendly game is different to the demands of the Premier League. As such, it will be interesting to see how the Blues deal with any pressure.

In fairness, you don’t imagine Ronald Koeman would ever allow the team to underestimate any opponent. However, whether they actually start the league campaign with three vital points, remains to be seen.

Next: 3 takeaways from 2-2 draw with Sevilla

While we’re still several days away, what’s your prediction for the final outcome on Saturday, between Everton and Stoke City? Further, how do you see the Blues doing in general during August? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.