Premier League rescue race: Everton rely on experienced rescuer

A two-week break from English football = the perfect time to recap the balanced bottom half of the Premier League. This time we look at the 15th position, which is Everton. The Toffees’ multi-season woes continue this season, whereupon management hired bailout expert Sean Dyche.

Everton are in the bottom tiers because of poor offensive play. In the summer, long-time goalscorer Richarlison left the club, and in the winter, then top scorer Anthony Gordon forced his exit. And things continue to creak up front.

Dyche will save the day even without an attack

There aren’t many coaches who don’t complain when they can’t lean on a goal-scoring striker. Sean Dyche is used to that problem. Since his February call-up to Everton he has won three times 1-0, something no one else has managed in that time frame.

At Burnley he was able to make good use of Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood and even Jay Rodriguez. The average strikers were productive, mainly functioning as towers. And Everton’s trio of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Neal Maupay, Ellis Simms is definitely better.

It’s all about the midfield

Dyche isn’t playing very pretty football, but the ends do testify to the means. And the experienced coach will need the same midfield and defensive form that the Toffees have held for the past two months to save them.

Abdoulaye Doucouré has joined the long term fantastic Amadou Onan, together they absolutely dominate the midfield. The core of the defensive line is held by stopper James Tarkowski, who Dyche has relied on for years at Burnley.

The plan for the rest of the season

Everton logically plan to finish the rest of the season in such a way as to save themselves. Although in the long run it has the ambition to attack the Top 6, with Dyche’s style of play it is very unlikely going forward.

The Toffees have a rather cruel fate. Of the Big Six teams, Tottenham and both Manchesters still await them, while as for rivals in the fight for survival, they will only challenge Bournemouth at home and travel to Crystal Palace, Leicester and Wolverhampton.

Source: Premier League