Everton need return to winning ways
After a generally satisfying but also ultimately frustrating derby draw with Liverpool on Sunday, Everton travel to Norwich City tomorrow for their second Premier League game since the restart.
It’s important Everton can find the back of the net again after a little barren run in front of goal and get back to winning ways as well against Norwich.
Their last last two league games have ended with an 0-4 defeat at Chelsea and that 0-0 stalemate at Goodison Park against Liverpool.
The Toffees are probably too far off the pace to secure a European place next season, but there is still a very slim outside chance they could finish seventh if the Blues can pick up enough points and other teams above them falter.
Tomorrow’s opponent Norwich City have struggled this term and despite the odd notable result, they are rooted to the bottom of the table and look certain to be relegated at season’s end.
Of course they did beat the Blues at Goodison Park back in November last year, but that was against a different Everton team and the Toffees have a chance to gain some revenge tomorrow.
The Canarie’s style is a reflection of their manager, Daniel Fark, who is another German coach similar in his football outlook to Jurgen Klopp.
To be honest I like Fark and his attitude to the game. However for a team that doesn’t have the quality to cope with the harsh world of the Premier League, they inevitably have had some tough results, especially away from home.
As for the Blues they defended superbly on Sunday night and of course could, maybe should, have won it in the end too.
In truth though Everton’s form hasn’t been great recently, as they have only gained two draws in their last four matches and also suffered two defeats away to London clubs Arsenal and Chelsea.
One other thing that is also slightly worrying, is the lack of goals scored in recent matches. The Toffees have only scored one goal in their last three Premier League games, hardly a desperate situation but a little concerning.
Obviously we are only just into the season restart, so players are rusty and performances and results are likely to be a little off kilter for a while.
One thing that came out of the derby, was that while the Blues created some decent chances, Everton’s forwards still sometimes make the wrong decision in front of goal.
A couple of times Richarlison might have shot earlier, (something I think is part of an effective strikers game), and could have passed to Alex Iwobi rather than shoot, when he was open in the box at the end of the game. But maybe I’m being a bit too picky as he had a fine game overall.
Partly this issue is just a consequence of the relative youth and inexperience of players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, both of whom have been improving rapidly under Carlo’s Ancelotti’s leadership since he joined the club.
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More experience and confidence playing in Ancelotti’s system and with better players around them will surely help to improve this situation and should see them scoring more regularly as they and the team progress.
As to the team to play tomorrow, I would be tempted to stick with basically the same eleven, although I would want Bernard given a place from the start ahead of Iwobi. Given the injury problems he is facing, it’s likely Ancelotti will probably go with that side anyway.
I’d also persist with Anthony Gordon too. The teenager struggled a bit against Liverpool, but he stuck to his task and showed some flashes of his talent. More matches will surely help him to build his confidence and develop his game.
Ancelotti is committed to ensuring first of all that the Blues don’t concede soft goals and to make the team hard to beat, which is a great foundation.
But he is also flexible and I’m sure he will want a more offensive performance than Sunday at Norwich, so I’m going to make a prediction and go for a 2-0 Blues victory tomorrow night.