The Toffees have had a difficult start to the season and find themselves sat in 17th, just two points above the relegation zone.
After their first fourteen games, the have lost eight games. These losses have also come against teams you would have expected them to beat. Having lost away to Aston Villa and at home to Sheffield United and Norwich City, they have failed to beat any of the newly promoted teams.
Marco Silva’s side have only played Tottenham Hotspur from last season’s top six and Everton’s run of fixtures before the halfway point of the season could not be any more difficult.
Nightmare run for Everton and Silva
Before the 26th of December, the Toffees have arguably the most unfortunate run of fixtures of any team this season.
This run started as they faced Leicester City on Sunday, where they devastatingly lost in the last minute, thanks to VAR and Kelechi Iheanacho. They then travel across Goodison Park to Anfield on Wednesday. Although derbies are notoriously difficult to predict, it is hard to see them beating a team that are undefeated and so clinical going forward. Two games back-to-back against the divisions’ top two is a daunting challenge for any team to face.
However, the tough run does not stop there as they then host Frank Lampard’s Chelsea who have scored 28 goals this season. A game that will surely provide goals, means that Everton have to outscore a team who have shown rampant attacking displays in the first 14 games.
Manchester United are next to host Everton who then travel back to Goodison Park to entertain Arsenal. This run of fixtures would be difficult for any team to manage, never mind a team that have only won two of their last five.
What should fans wish for over the Christmas period?
A win would be nice.
Marco Silva could be out of a job if his side lose to Liverpool. Even if he wins, it feels like he is one bad performance away from being dismissed.
Fans will be hoping to grab points against teams they host. They must get something against Arsenal and Chelsea and transform their dismal home performances. In what has been a nightmare start to their 2019/20 campaign, fans will be wishing for a change in fortunes.
The wish lists will definitely have ‘some points’ written on them. But, is Marco Silva the man to deliver some Christmas cheer?
