An unbeaten start to the season is just what Everton fans would've been praying for, after going 7 games without a win during the run-in for a fabled European spot last season. That nightmare-ish end to the campaign must've lit a spark inside the player's spirits, with two stoppage time strikes in consecutive games from captain James Tarkowski, and newly signed right-back Maitland-Niles securing a point apiece.
Following on from the Toffees' latest outing in a 0-0 draw against Tottenham, Vitaly Mykolenko spoke to Sky Sports post-match after receiving his man of the match award;
"This group is so good... this is probably the best group i've seen ever in Everton since I came"Vitaly Mykolenko to Sky Sports
The unity in the squad is clearly increasing, and despite the drama that came with deadline day and the transfer window as a whole, the group that Moyes has to work with seem to be all bonding closely, with the hard work showing on the pitch.
When was last time Everton started their campaign 5 games unbeaten you may be thinking? You'd have to go all the way back to 2021 under he who shouldn't be named (Benitez...) , with 4 wins in his first five, coming against Southampton, Huddersfield, Brighton and Burnley. Take me back to pre-injury Calvert-Lewin, he was a sight to behold on that pitch.
It did however go all downhill after the opening five, getting knocked out to QPR on pens, and following on from a 2-0 against Norwich, Rafa won one game in 14 league matches, against Arsenal of all teams as well.
Whilst the Premier League table isn't something to go by with just four matches being played, there are encouraging signs for the toffees, especially after bringing in Championship 25/26 player of the year Hayden Hackney to the club, alongside retaining academy graduate Harrison Armstrong after a rather heated campaign against the club for even thinking of selling him.
Next on the schedule for the Blues stands relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Carabao Cup clash tomorrow night, with the boost of home advantage for Moyes' side at The Hill Dickinson surely giving more favour for Everton to advance to the fourth round. Wolves have lost just one game in eight so far, coming away from home to their relegation partners in West Ham, as they sit in 7th place with a game in hand waiting in the wings.
Could this fixture be ideal for another young star to make his way up the ladder in Braiden Graham? The Everton hierarchy clearly value his talent, and having travelled with the first team in the Blues' last two matches but not getting on the pitch, tomorrow could be the perfect opportunity for the newly called-up Northern Irish international.
Tarkowski and Co should be warey of Wolves despite playing a league above them this season, with 22 year old Spanish midfielder Fer Lopez making a name for himself having returned on loan from Celta Vigo this summer, scoring four and assisting twice in eight games.
The Carabao Cup third round tie should be a good chance for Tyler Dibling to show what he's made of, as the 19 year old looked sharp amidst Everton's pre-season, so a spot in the starting eleven tomorrow night, could prove costly to Wolves' backline.
If Everton do advance on in this cup tie, it would be their joint second best start to a season (in terms of not losing) in 12 years, alongside their five wins from six in 2016, but this season's toffees will have a long way to go in attempts to overthrone Ancelotti's lockdown side, as they went 9 games unbeaten, four wins from four in the league, three from three in the cup, and a derby day draw.
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