Everton going backwards as key rivals keep improving

After Everton were beaten at Wolves last night the evidence is mounting that this football club appears to be going backwards as others make further strides to competitivness.

Last night’s defeat has left Everton in a very difficult situation, langushing in tenth place and in freefall after their solid start to the campaign has evaporated.

With a critical match coming up against Tottenham on Sunday (surely a game the Toffees have to win?) then comes another international break and following that a run of hugely testing fixtures.

First defending champions Manchester City then comes a tricky trip to Brentford before the Merseyside derby and after that games against a dangerous Crystal Palace, resurgent Arsenal and league leaders Chelsea. At the moment it’s hard to see this Blues team picking up almost any points from those matches.

While it might seem alarmist, it’s possible Everton could only have at best a point or two from those games and so they could be in the bottom four or five by Christmas. I’m beginning to think this season is now going to turn into a long, hard relegation battle.

It’s possible, trying to find something positive to hold onto, that the team might actually play with more determination against the better sides, we’ve seen that from time to time.

And hopefully after the break, at least Yerry Mina and Abdoulaye Doucoure will be fit again, although Dominic Calvert-Lewin still probably won’t be.