Everton: 3 burning questions for Everton ahead of Fulham game

Richarlison returns after missing 3 games due to suspension.

3. Will Richarlison’s return reboot Everton’s season?

Everton supporters held their breath after seeing Richarlison being hacked down by Edison Cavani in a midweek international. Cavani was sent off.

It’s hard to ignore the impact Richarlison has on Everton. He does seem like the player Everton can’t do without. The Royal Blues haven’t won when he doesn’t play. He’s missed eight games and Everton have failed to win any of them.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suffered without him. In the three games, Richarlison missed due to suspension, the Everton No. 9 only scored once and Everton only notched two goals.

So just what does Richarlison do that is so important to Everton?

Calvert-Lewin’s emergence as a poacher may appear to make him the top man in the Everton front three. Richarlison does more than score goals, however. His abilities have been obvious since he first started playing.

Richarlison’s manager at Fluminese, Abel Braga told the Independent

"It’s not that Richarlison dribbles. it’s that he goes past players with a one-two. A lot of teams today play with a high defensive line – when they’ve got the ball in the opponent’s half, their defence is on the halfway line. Then, with any turnover of possession you get the ball into space and he’ll get there first. He drags the team forwards."

Richarlison is also a willing worker and happy to track back, Braga said. In the five league games, Richarlison has played; the Toffees have scored 14 goals.

And while he’s scored just once and added two assists in those five appearances, once again, there is more to his role. He is often the target of cross field passes from Rodriguez, which quickly switches the focus of play.

Richarlison and Lucas Digne have formed a creative partnership for Everton and they should put pressure on a shaky Fulham defence.

After a three-game skid, there are many questions facing Everton, but with the right answers to these three, expect, the Blues to win their third straight match in London.