Prince Rupert's Tower
Fansided

Everton 0 Fulham 1: Same old Blues defeated on opening day

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Michael Keane of Everton scores a goal that was later ruled out for a foul on Bernd Leno of Fulham during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Fulham FC at Goodison Park on August 12, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Michael Keane of Everton scores a goal that was later ruled out for a foul on Bernd Leno of Fulham during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Fulham FC at Goodison Park on August 12, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Deja-vu, groundhog day, call it what you like but Everton looked just the same as the Toffees went down to a 1-0 defeat to Fulham at Goodison Park this afternoon.

The home team played well in patches, creating decent chances but frustratingly failed to take advantage, before Fulham snatched it with a second half goal following some classically inept defending. It was as if last season hadn’t actually finished but was merely temporarily postponed.

I am going to say it now, this early in the new campaign: unless Everton get some proven goalscorers through the door before the transfer window shuts, I think that despite any other improvements under Dyche, this team might finally go down at the end of the season.

There were significant positives to the performance, such as solid defending from James Tarkowski in particular and Micheal Keane, who also had the ball in the net only for it to be strangely ruled out for a foul that seemed a highly questionable call. Same old referring again too!

Chances were certainly made despite the absence of last season’s most creative player Dwight McNeil. Alex Iwobi, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Nathan Patterson and most of all Neal Maupay should all have scored. The old problems in front of goal remain painfully clear and unresolved.

Sean Dyche picked almost exactly the side I expected him to, other than starting Maupay up front on his own as he decided against risking the ever-fragile Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Frenchman again though failed to make any impact and was withdrawn in the second half to be replaced by Arnaut Danjuma, making his Blues debut six months later than had once been anticipated.

It was crystal clear again for the umpteenth time this afternoon that without a decent spearhead up top, Everton will be facing a massive struggle to score goals and win games.

There are of course myriad transfer rumours still doing the rounds about various attacking players such as Wilfried Gnonto, Hugo Ekitike and most recently, Udinese’s Beto.

But so far, the only centre-forward that the Toffees have brought in is 19-year-old Youssef Chermiti who is unlikely to be able to go straight into the team and start scoring.

Director of Football Kevin Thelwell penned an open letter to Blues fans underlining efforts were still going on behind the scenes to get other players in. That work has to bear fruit and soon.

So, Everton begin their last ever full campaign at the Grand Old Lady with a disappointing defeat that leaves the side facing an immediate uphill battle to get points on the board quickly.