Even the most optimistic Everton fan wouldn’t have predicted their side to be unbeaten after three games of the Premier League season.
The Toffees endured a wretched summer transfer window, with the likes of Iliman Ndiaye, Beto and Tim Iroegbunam leaving, while they missed out on prime striker target Folarin Balogun at the last minute.
However, that hasn’t affected things on the pitch so far, with David Moyes’ men opening up with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, before snatching last-minute draws against Bournemouth and Manchester United. All with a 4-0 demolition of Preston North End in the EFL Cup thrown in.
But can Everton sustain this impressive start, or are they one wrong turn away from disaster?
Underlying attacking worries
In terms of raw numbers, Everton are performing very well in the final third. The Toffees are sixth for chances created (36) and seventh for shots (47), while only the Manchester sides have had more shots on target (18).
However, it’s been quantity over quality for Moyes’ side, with those shots amounting to just 4.0 xG. Only five sides have generated less, three of which — Coventry, Tottenham and Aston Villa — are yet to score a goal.
Everton dominated in their opening 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry scoring with high-quality chances.
However, in their 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, it was a James Tarkowski effort from a corner in the 91st minute that earned them a point following some dreadful misses from Barry. Meanwhile, against Man Utd, two thunderous strikes after the 80th minute snatched the draw: a powerful Tyrique George strike from an acute angle and a long-range rocket from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, each of which probably would have blazed high and wide nine times out of 10.
There was much optimism after Barry opened the season with his strike against Palace and a hat-trick in the cup against Preston. Since then, however, he’s missed three big chances and failed to score. If this is a return to form, that’s a problem, with the Frenchman being Everton’s only recognised striker.
There’s a lot to like about Everton’s attack, especially considering they sold Ndiaye to Man City and haven’t fully re-integrated Jack Grealish yet. However, there are worrying signs that things could grind to a halt soon if they’re not careful.
Defence remains solid
Everton have only managed to overcome their struggles in recent years because of their defence. Jordan Pickford has regularly figured in the upper reaches of the Golden Glove race, while the likes of Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite have been towers of strength.
That’s largely been the case again at the start of this season. Everton are fourth in the Premier League for interceptions (31), fifth for tackles (52) and middle of the pack for shots conceded inside and outside the box (11th for both). They’ve also been tenacious and active in winning the ball back, sitting first, third and sixth for possessions won in the attacking, middle and defensive thirds, respectively.
Everton have conceded just three goals, two of which came against Manchester United last time out. Meanwhile, their 4.0 xG conceded is 10th in the Premier League, and a better record than the likes of Chelsea (4.8), Aston Villa (5.4), Newcastle (5.5) and Tottenham (5.5).
Moyes is nothing if not an expert in pragmatism, and Everton continue to be a formidable defensive unit.
Everton’s depth time bomb
Everton’s lack of depth is no secret at this point. A disastrous summer transfer window saw Beto leave and Balogun’s arrival fall apart, leaving Thierno Barry as their only senior striker.
Meanwhile, Seamus Coleman’s retirement, Nathan Patterson leaving for Torino and Adam Aznou joining Malaga on loan mean Vitalii Mykolenko is the club’s only natural full-back aside from Maitland-Niles, who was converted to that position after coming through at Arsenal playing in midfield and on the wing.
Even at centre-back, Branthwaite has struggled to stay consistently fit over the last couple of years. Behind him and Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Jake O’Brien are next in line, and the latter has spent most of his time covering at right-back during his time as an Everton player.
Everton aren’t exactly blessed with depth on the wings either. Grealish has returned and Brennan Johnson joined in exchange for Dwight McNeil. But behind them, the young and largely untested George and Tyler Dibling are their only other options.
The Toffees are one or two injuries away from utter disaster at both ends of the pitch.
Everton’s squad depth
Everton were given a timely injury warning on Sunday as James Garner limped off in the second half, mere moments after Hayden Hackney was introduced for Merlin Rohl, who was covering at right-back.
Moyes got lucky this time, as Maitland-Niles replaced Garner, who had slotted in at right-back, and went on to score the equaliser.
Thankfully, Garner was suffering from mere cramp. However, it was a reminder of how precarious their situation is even in their area of strongest depth, with summer signing Christian Norgaard still nursing a muscle injury.
Even more than an attack that has the potential to stutter, a simple lack of bodies could land Everton in serious trouble as the season goes on, especially as we head into the busy winter period.