Dogged Cardiff make it hard work for Everton

Gomes has had a superb first half and is evidently growing in confidence in his ability to 'boss' a game. A good sign for us as to date he has generally had a quiet opening 45 minute and improved after the interval.

The weak link for me continues to be Bernard. He is far, far from becoming our 'David Silva' as some claim. Too often – and not just in this game – but things break down around him. Poor first touch. Poor passing – even a short simple pass. No speed to get away from players. No strength to ride a challenge. The boy has ability, but even in the Leicester game in which he made some good plays, he also showed some of the above failings.

For me, he clearly is not yet up to speed to the Premier League. He missed all of pre-season and that may be a factor. It may be a kindness to not start him for a few games.

Speed things up. Be tidier with our passing. Make better choices in the final third. Get a goal!

We had a good 10-minute spell around the time of the goal, but Cardiff were always in the game.

Our game management in the final 15 minutes was appalling.

Happy for the win, but not much else to eulogise about.

Doesn't matter. Three points, 6th place.

Roll on.

The rest was pretty much garbage, apart from Lookman who was brilliant at times.

Richarlison, Bernard, Gomes, Geuye so many mistakes. If that was preparation for next week... Well, let's not even go there just yet.

How do you figure only temporary? I can't see Bournemouth beating Arsenal so we will keep 6th at least this week.

A few misplaced passes aside, Lookman was electric. You have to think it's only a matter of time before he forces his way into the starting XI.

Clean sheets are also starting to pile up, which is a welcome change from early in the season.

We're solid at the back. And we go forward well.

I think we are seeing the makings of a balanced, total footballing team.

I just didn't see us get it together, to be honest.

Gomes is class and can only see him becoming more influential. Keane 100% improved since last season.

Bernard and Walcott are definitely mysteries. Walcott's finishing this season has been poor and today again no exception. A proper goalscorer would have buried that. Lucky for us a decent rebound fell to Sigurdsson.

Still, I suppose the main thing is it's another 3 points, more confidence – and we'll need it next week for sure!

I think Bernard has to sit out the derby, he needs a break. Lookman has done enough to merit a starting place. I would move Walcott to the centre, Richarlison out left, and Lookman on the right. No other change.

Richarlison needs to go back out to the left, and a quality striker signed.

We will have to be more accurate with our passing, and try to keep tighter possession next week. They are on a roll now, but a derby is a different matter.

Overall Possession %
71/29
Total shots
16/7
On target
8/1
Passing %
79.5/52.8
Attacking 3rd %
66.5/36.9
Goalkeeping Saves
1/6

and all's the co-commentator could go on about was Cardiff's resilience.

There was still a lot to like about the performance, despite a few sloppy passes etc.

This is a different team to even the one at the beginning of this season. We had 4 players who'd never played in the Premier League before in Gomes, Mina, Digne and Bernard. 2 were injured up until recently and one had no pre-season; we are bound to get a few sloppy passes and people operating on a different wavelength.

However, we are really good to watch, move the ball forward much much quicker than previously, and fight to get it back and close players down quicker.

My only gripe is Richarlison's occasional gamesmanship, I don't like it and don't want to see it at Everton. But overall, exceptionally good progress and we are higher at this stage than many of us predicted.

We look like a team!

I was impressed with Bamba, a proper centre-half! However, we are doing pretty well in that department methinks!

Close but, so far, no cigar; Silva is giving them every chance and it's about time they clicked. Coleman was very lucky not to give away that penalty shout.

Quite a few of our lads didn't seem up for it today and hopefully something is being kept on reserve for next week because, Christ, we are going to need to be at it.

Richarlison needs to go back to a deeper role where he clearly has more influence on the game. I have zero faith in Tosun... so it's either Calvert-Lewin or Walcott up top for me. I'd prefer to see what the latter could do in a No 9 role.

Lookman is making a great case for starting.

An easy-on-the-eye performance which is always welcome but we need a striker big time. I'd be inclined to stick Tosun up there again and try to get him going.

Can't understand the negative comments to be honest.

I think we just about deserved a win though. But there were so many times when a simple ball to create a real chance of a shot on target was wasted. Gomes was a mirror of our performance, did some great work to create space for that final killer pass to release someone, but then fucked up the simple pass.

Still, 3 points before two very hard away games, much needed.

Not a great performance, but we outplayed the opponents by a mile. When they did have chances, either the defence snuffed it or our keeper showed his class.

Liverpool next. A far more potent front line than today's lot, but they won't sit back and try to hit us on the break. Be a great gauge of how far the team has come...

Great games by Gomes, Keane and Pickford.

Tosun is not going to do it at this level and centre-forward remains our Achilles heel.

If we lose then there are likely to be some positive comments despite the defeat.

What would be the point of a forum like this if we all just agree that win = good and lose = bad?

Let's just go back 12 months and look at the difference with our results.

I think it is only going to get better, starting next week please.

So, at least we go there in a good positive right frame of mind on a good run of form and solid defence. It is vital to keep our belief and tempo against the neighbours.

If we stay injury free this week, we have every chance of getting a good result. They wont like it having a team not lie down and die in the dressing room, before the ball is kicked.

Genuine optimism and hope for next week, even a few of their supporters have noted the last few weeks and our consistency.

The derby's different and, if there's to be a tweak, I'd start Mola for Theo, but that's my view on the basis of the last 5 games.

Not looking for the referee as that's a lost cause this season, as the standards have gone as poor as I recall.

Onwards and upwards, Evertonians. Enjoy the beers tonight.

I'd call that a professional performance. We weren't at our best, but we got the job done and were unlucky not to have added a 2nd...

Did you?

He's going to want his own players and I don't think Tosun will be here that much longer,the lad works so hard and he's not the worst striker we have ever had but where we want to be going these days I think we need a better level than Cenk can offer.

I'm certain if a Turkish club came in for him it would appeal to him and us if the offer was considerable.

Calvert-Lewin has always been most effective as a sub and there's question marks over his true ability to hurt the top sides.

Niasse has already gone and Silva seems to have made his mind up quickly over him.

Richarlison is our best goal scorer at centre forward but there's games like today when you need something more than him to get on the end of crosses etc.

I think two strikers will leave in January and one (of Silva's choice) will arrive.

It's not this "negative comments" garbage that some people feel the need to spout. It's realistic assessment of the game.

Sadly it shows a lack of quality which cost us 2 points at Chelsea, despite what was widely acknowledged to be our best performance, and numerous earlier opportunities in the season where we have thrown points away.

It's mistakes, and especially giving the ball away in critical areas and situations, that can lose a winnable game for us. I especially do not want to see that next weekend.

Yes, I certainly found many aspects of the game imperfect. I was going to list some out but then realised that most of them have been covered on this thread and you've presumably read them.

That's nonsense.

I posted my opinion, based on what I watched and based on what I see as a continued progression from the garbage we watched last season.

Just honest assessment of how a host of different spectators viewed the game.

Curiously enough, many of them are in agreement on diverse themes from the game and individual player performances.

Who'd have thunked it..?

But big but are we progressing as a team and club?

I think so, so all about the perspective we have.

I prefer to look at them as teething problems in the 13 league games we have played this season. I'd rather concentrate on the positive improvement.

We have the mini derby tomorrow; I would love to see McCarthy get a runout, and play the full game, and hopefully be good enough for the bench at Anfield next week.

There's a shit-ton of things to be critical of today.

As one who hates the moaning, none of the above comments are what trip my trigger.

A ton of wayward passes, some very poor giveaways, fouls in bad areas of the pitch at critical times, and some disjointed play.

Balanced with some excellent movement at times, attacking intent, and good defending.

I'd write all of this down to International Break Hangover Syndrome, or IBHS in the psychology world.

Three points. We did what good teams do – win when you're not at your best.

I think Bernard hasn't hit anywhere near top form yet and flatters to deceive a little. Walcott is unfortunately not up to it; his effort at goal that Sigurdsson followed up for the goal was pathetic. Watch it again if you don't believe me, it was so tame and flustered, he was fortunate Siggy had the wherewithal to follow up. I like Siggy more and more as Silva's reign goes on.

Defense is now very sound and another clean sheet to show for it. Loads of positives and a few minor gripes. COYB!!!!

Stocks to buy:
Richarlison
Mina
Keane
Lookman
Sigurdsson
Gueye
Bernard (potential for big gains)
Gomes (can't buy it, closed to public sector by a Spanish conglomerate)
Digne

Stocks to sell:
Baines
Jagielka
Tosun
Schneiderlin

Stocks to hold:
Coleman (sentimental value, bought it at the IPO)
Davies
Calvert-Lewin
Walcott

Stocks to base your retirement on:
Pickford

I thought Lookman was fantastic in places; surely he will start in the derby in front of Walcott?

Like I said, I don't know if he's being criticised or not but please be patient with him. He's worth it.

The two big things I take from this game are:

1. Goodison feels like a fortress again. Winning the vast majority of your home games means you're a top 6 or 7 team. Away games and games against the rest of the Big 6 dictate where you finish in that mini-league (I'm excluding Man Utd – they're bang average).

2. We have to figure out what to do with Richarlison. He's playing up top purely because the other options aren't deemed good enough but it's limiting a top footballer's impact. Bernard on the left isn't quite making this worth our while.

Big test next week. COYB

If today taught us anything, it's that we desperately need a natural goalscorer.

A lot of potentially dangerous final passes didn't succeed today. But at least we saw the pass – last season we couldn't see a pass if it waved at us.

They could have said,"Sigurdsson strike takes Everton to 6th",

or, "Sigurdsson strike takes Everton above Man Utd".

What did they say?

"Sigurdsson strike keeps Cardiff in bottom three".

Bernard almost made that goal for Siggy that was cleared off the line.

I think the options are there now to mix things up anyway but give players time.

I would much rather we huff and puff against the likes of Cardiff if it means we put in a strong performance against the RS next week. I am having to pinch myself at hoping for a Bournemouth win tomorrow because winning at Mordor gives an outside chance of climbing up to 5th.

We have some real quality in the team now and things have moved forwards much sooner than I expected. The only change I would make for next week is Lookman in for Walcott, I think this will help bring out the best in both players. The RS are strong in the middle of their defence so speed and skill in the wide positions is the best option that I see where we can hurt them.

Feels good to be thinking that we can snatch something from Mordor or at the very minimum give a good account of ourselves.

By the way, dId anyone else think that the challenge on Pickford was a red card? Although I thought the ref made a few strange decisions, it was good to see an opposing goalkeeper booked for time wasting before half-time.

As good as Richarlison has been, he was awful today. Nothing stuck to him and he gave the ball away more often than not.

That was a hard fought win against a team of spoilers. I'll take those wins because we totally dominated and, other than Pickford's parry, they offered nothing.

Winning ugly is a necessity in a league with very little between so many teams.

Despite the poor passing, especially in the final third, that's the kind of performance that gives me more long-term optimism. A solid team that finds a way to score and manages a game when below it's best.

I thought we played some really good stuff today but it seems the players haven't fully gelled yet. When they get on each others' wavelengths better, we will be really hard to beat.

I thought Idrissa was excellent today and I was particularly impressed with Lookman. He has a smart first touch which gets him facing forward and on the front foot and I think a lot of defenders will struggle against him. Surely he deserves a run in the team at the expense of Walcott.

It's also time for Walcott to be benched and a chance for Lookman get a starting berth. 3 points is 3 points whilst not being particularly good. Roll on the derby.

Too many unforced errors today and we will get punished next week if we do not improve in that area. At least we know that Liverpool will be going all out for the win and so this will give us the chance to counter-attack and, with our pace up front, who knows what might happen? As a result, we must stick with Walcott and maybe give Lookman a start ahead of Bernard.

I think Richarlison's best position is out wide so maybe start with Walcott in the middle. I also much prefer Calvert-Lewin than Tosun to come off of the bench. We have shown over the last few games we are strong in defence and so I am looking forward to how far we have progressed this season... I am optimistic for the first time in years for next week!

Definitely turning into a team, Everton, I just hope that we can start to get our final pass off in the next few games, hopefully starting at Anfield next week.

I agree about Bernard, Jay, but also think he's gonna be some player when he really adapts to English football. He's not quite direct enough just yet, although the way he came inside and put Sigurdsson in on goal during the second half today showed how much natural ability this kid does possess.

The midfield three were very good, but we needed a focus point further up the pitch, and Richarlison never offered it today.

So is Schneiderlin injured or just not making the bench? Same question on Niasse.

I think we'll find it easier to play against Liverpool.

Our front 3 just weren't at it and Walcott looked totally dejected at times, completely shot of all confidence. You knew he wouldn't score with that chance but luckily it fell to Sigurdsson. It's not the first time he's been one-on-one and takes such a lame shot. Gomes was brilliant, love watching him.

Overall, another happy Saturday evening!

Chelsea have 40 players out on loan at the moment. 40!, including Zouma, Kennedy, Bakayoko and Batashuayi. They were unbeaten and hadn't been held scoreless at home in forever. It wasn't an opportunity squandered through lack of quality. It was an heroic performance to claim an unlikely point, and a positive signpost to a brighter future.

We weren't perfect today with lots of mistakes but, in seasons gone by, that would have been one of those disappointing days where we get beaten unexpectedly.

There are lots of positives but please let my lad experience beating that lot. He'll be 8 in a couple of weeks and it hasn't happened in his lifetime.

I think the reason the Cardiff morons were booing Tony was because he beat Nathan Cleverley, who is a massive Cardiff fan. But that was at a different weight to what the great man is or was fighting at prior to him calling it a day.

Anyway, how could anyone in their right mind boo a man who is so respectful to his opponents? It completely baffles me.

We do need to recognise that there were two teams out there and the opposition will never just roll over. Even skill-limited opposition like Cardiff will fight till the end and be very well organised – seems to be the way nowadays. This results in no easy games, so when we don't play to our best, we still need to find a way to win – which we did.

Could have been so different if the poor excuse for a referee had given what looked like (admittedly from my position in the Gwladys Street End very far away) a very giveable penalty for Seamus's mistimed challenge. Seamus has mistimed a few of them this season and this continues to worry me. I'm hoping he just needs to play himself back to tip top form but the longer it goes on?

I expect a much better performance next week.

This wasn't a classic but it's set us up for a derby where frankly I'd play the three in-form centre-backs and two wingbacks. Gomes and Gueye add cover and attacking intent and link play, particularly Gomes. Gylfi, Richarlison and Lookman make up the rather skinny diamond.

It could work really well at Anfield. I doubt it will happen but really feel it's a balanced approach that gives us defensive strength alongside a pacey front three.

When we broke the deadlock, I thought that we would score at least a couple more, but no, in all fairness to Cardiff, they rode their luck, but at the same time looked capable of nicking something, against the run of play.

It was so evident today, even after the substitutions, that we are still lacking that killer instinct, a player in the striking role who can regularly score.

Is that asking for too much?

Fitful and disjointed, but, at the same time, I see what we are about. It wasn't aimless just poorly executed. Gomes stood out whilst others toiled.

The continued lack of harmony between Coleman & Walcott all too evident. They just lack a cerebral touch as a combination. I'll continue to say one or the other needs dropping for a better-balanced combination.

When Lookman comes on, the combination starts to appear as he holds the ball and finds Coleman running into spaces.

Overall, a very average effort but some lessons players are learning, from similar games early in the campaign.

Each win earns Silva the currency of time and patience, he definitely is in credit with me. Progression.... albeit this week stemmed to a trickle.

I don't give a tinker's cuss about Chelsea, their riches, their legion of loanees (except perhaps Zouma), and least of all their dirty cynical so-called stars. That foul by that pig Jorginho and the fact that it didn't earn a straight red is still boiling my piss.

Why would you describe it as a "heroic performance to claim an unlikely point"??? Sounds like you're still steeped in 'plucky little Everton', and the mindset of Moyes's boyz daring to visit the homes of the top six with anything more than a penknife?

It was a poor shot in terms of power, but a good choice of where to hit it. Would have been easier to try and go near post to get more power on it, but shooting across the goal would, in the event that he missed or the keeper saved, increase the likelihood of a secondary opportunity. Which is what happened. So credit to him for getting the original chance and credit for making a good choice.

Having said that – that used to be us – hard luck Everton. Not anymore. We deserved the 3 points yesterday and the point we got at Chelsea because, in both games, we kept at it even when things weren't going our way.

We didn't click in this match but I do think we have quality in every position. Having had doubts about Richarlison initially as a striker, I think we should keep faith with him up front.

Silva will take us to Mordor next week with the intention of winning. We are better than them in midfield – I would stick with the same starting line-up.

Laurie at #87,

I'm not going to get big headed and say we are better than Liverpool in midfield because I've seen far too many derbies over the last 15 years when we have had a better midfield than them but in derbies Liverpool seem to always make every area of the pitch work better than us.

Hopefully next week we can finally break the cycle.

Let's get rid of the cheating and maybe even try and bring a bit of honesty back into the sport, because even the man in the TV studio seems to have an agenda these days.

I heard the commentator on MotD say “almost” when Walcott nearly played Coleman in with a one-two, and that's what I feel when I watch the blues lately.

Getting better, much better, but the final ball is just not getting there, and it seems to be because we are rushing the last pass; careless is what I'd call most of it.

The one were Lookman flicked it to Sigurdsson, who tried to flick it round the corner to Richarlison, was very unlucky but, most of the time, not enough care is being taken with the final pass.

Robbie Fowler was in Nairobi to promote the Reds Supporters Club. I happened to have been invited for dinner and proudly wore my blue t-shirt. I got a few weird looks but in Nairobi, we don't really start fights over football partisanship. Not yet anyway.

He chatted to a closed group afterwards and talked about how much Liverpool have pulled away from Everton since Hodgson was sacked. Under Klopp, he expects complete domination of derby matches, although last season Everton surprisingly made things difficult.

I find myself agitated that I cannot reflect on yesterday's game without thinking ahead to next Sunday.

Anyway. Thinking back to yesterday. We struggled as we tend to do after international breaks (might be a coincidence, but I note how our first-half performances after a break tend to be a little disjointed).

What I enjoyed though was seeing Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes. Mina is exactly the don't-mess-with-me character we need, backed up by a big dollop of talent. He had a few jitters and conceded a sloppy chance but he defended well in the first half when we kept losing the ball in dangerous positions. I think he is going to get better with match fitness. I hope he can bring through the attacking aerial threat we saw in the World Cup. Mina vs Van Dijk will be an interesting contest (thinking ahead to next week again... need to stop).

Gomes was a monster. My word, I will be delighted if he is here next season and keeps up his form. Portugal seems to be excellent at producing all round No 8s – Gomes, Neves, Manu Fernandes, Tiago at Chelsea et al.

These two have the physical attributes to stand up to anyone. Lookman for me brings the skill and pace that Bernard has sadly shown only in patches. Throw in the tenacity of Gueye, the craft of Gylfi, and the blistering pace of Richie, and we have the core of a team here capable of taking on all comers.

So Gary Lineker introduced MotD as featuring all of the top four...

If we were 3rd, they'd become the top two!

The love on Twitter for Gomes has gone stratospheric. We have to sign him.

In terms of the game, I thought even though we were not at our best that there was still more skill and invention in those 90 minutes than there was in the entire last season.

The thing I'm quite liking about this team is more than having good players. More than playing quite well. It's that we seem to have players with a real presence.

Gomes, Pickford, Richarlison... and I'll throw Mina into it too. These guys just seem so confident, to the point where the opposition look in awe. Like a late eighties Tyson, they've got people thinking twice before the whistle blows.

The last two games I would say his ball control and dribbling have been outstanding.

It appears he is enjoying his time and football at Everton and perhaps we are seeing why Barca wanted him. He is a Rolls-Royce footballer – we have to keep him.

I thought the attacker 'was looking for it', but agree with others that Coleman's timing was out and it was very 'giveable'. When we complain about the decisions that have gone against us we should remember that we got the benefit of the doubt on that one.

I'm also not sure why the challenge on Pickford wasn't seen as a red card. He isn't looking at the ball, and he turns his body to charge Pickford with his shoulder while Pickford's in the air. That was deliberate at worst and seriously reckless at best and could cause some serious damage.

That's a good point about the type of players we have, and the respect they command from the opposition. Mina is a unit and nobody wants to go up against great big centre-halves like him.

Gomes is as Laurie says, a Rolls-Royce footballer and he's really making us tick in midfield. Quality in every area of his game, he's the best central midfielder we've had for many years. Him & Gana really do compliment each other and give Gylfi the room to play as well. All good stuff eh.

Let's not forget Idrissa Gueye – another gem.

I think it will be next season before we see the best of Bernard, but he and Walcott have been pretty average in our last 3 games, and yesterday was probably Richarlisons least effective game since joining.

I can understand why Marco Silva has stuck with Walcott and Bernard but surely Lookman has to start against Liverpool. When he has come on this season he has made a difference; I believe he is a talent and we need to play him or risk losing him. I would be also tempted to play Calvert-Lewin up front against Liverpool and move Richarlison out wide.

But the improvement in this team under Marco Silva is there for all to see, I know some had doubts about him but I had belief he would be good for us. When Watford refused us permission to speak to him I thought we had lost our chance to get him. But thankfully Moshiri knew who he wanted and got his man.

Top 6 is a real possibility but his biggest challenge might be getting Barcelona to sell Gomes and possibly convincing Chelsea to do the same with Zouma.

I suppose they are saving their “ink” for when, or if, Man Utd obtain that lofty position. Will it now become a Top 5?

On Sky, we looked to play very well at times with Gomes absolutely outstanding and Lookman very exciting. He looks stronger on the ball now and may be worth a start next week in place of Theo who I feel may go missing in the derby.

Mina looks just the character we need at the back —confident, vocal and will relish the atmosphere next week. On paper, we have a good enough team to do them and it will be a big test for Silva to get them in the right frame of mind which is the most essential aspect.

Do we go three centre-backs? Do we drop Theo and / or Bernard? Will Bernard be swatted aside in the heat of the derby? Do we play Calvert-Lewin up front and Richarlison wide left?

I'm glad I'm not the manager this week! Mind you... on ٣M a year???

Blood and guts won't work in this game, we need to be clever and dictate the tempo. The game will be won or lost in the first 30 mins.

I see the Echo's gambling partners are offering 14/1 against a Blues victory in the derby game. Get on!

The current set-up is excellent. There is no doubt things will get better. Lookman is looking tremendous at the moment; I would love to see him in every game. Gomes is just a delight.

I'd be here all day extolling the virtues of this current team... I just hope we can send the RS packing next week.

There's always been the likes of Baines, Kenny, Tom Davies, Rooney (in two periods with the club) who have played in the cut and thrust of a derby match. I know all the summer signings have played in big games before, but will they see it as just another game, or will the occasion get to them like it has for the majority of the last 20 years?

Many fans consider playing Richarlison in the middle is the best option at present. Some feel that works better in the home games than away from home. Others consider it works better in the away games where generally there is more space for him to work in. I am in the latter school of thought. Yesterday, with Cardiff defending in numbers, he often drifted away from the middle just to get involved in the play. That contributed to the sense of incoherence in our attacking play in the final third with final passes, shots and crosses going astray.

Next week's game will obviously provide different challenges. We have a full squad and a full week to prepare. Hopefully Silva will use the time well – not only to drill our defence but also to make our attack more clinical. Against a team which has conceded only five league goals this season, our attackers must make better use of any opportunities.

One other thing they don't have for this game, our talisman will be there!!! So no pressure, Mr Gaynes, just continue your winning streak.

COYB and wishing Mike a great trip; the Midland Hotel sounds like fun next Friday. I am sure you will be in very good company.

One thing that I would perhaps do for next week (this won't be popular) is play Calvert-Lewin up front, with Richarlison wide.

One particular incident summed it up for me, when Gomes got a tremendous cross in, 6 or 7 yards out in the centre of goal, there was nobody there. Richie was static on the penalty spot, and often there was a huge void in this vital area.

Lookman to start, but I think the team will be unchanged.

Gomez plays for Liverpool
Gomes plays for Everton

I'd hate for you to get it wrong!

Yes, the occasion will get to them. We're cursed by them bastards... Witness the U23s today! Flying and top of Premier League 2... we play them and we play absolutely shite and go to bits.

I'm sick of it and I've got a nauseating feeling we are going to get well and truly stuffed next week. Knocks me sick to think they're not even playing that well but are still on Man City's shirttails.

This run against them is nothing short of embarrassing and I cringe when I think of it. Like everyone else, I'm desperate to beat them but, in my mind, I know it's not going to happen. Sorry if I'm raining on anyone's parade.

Another small point, but maybe significant, is that Liverpool have possibly a make-or-break Champions League game in Paris midweek; they can't rest any players for this game.

It's not a case of "plucky little Everton", it's a recognition that a year ago we were a shambles and are still in a rebuilding phase with lots to do. We can expect to be competitive now but it's a little early to be going to Chelsea or Man City or, dare I say, across the park expecting to win at this stage. They're considerably further ahead of us in terms of squad development, finances, investment, etc. But hopefully that will come soon.

There's loads to be positive about – I'm just not getting carried away yet. Chelsea was a glass half-full. So was yesterday. 3 points next Sunday and we can really get excited.

Let's hope that shirt of yours brings us luck. And you survive among the rs.

Let them worry about us and we focus on us. They as Fulham prooved the other week, are still suspect at intense and accurate attacks.

With our players we can go into this game with confidence, why shouldn't we? Today's mini Derby shows what happens, next week EFC can break the mould, but we must take our chances and also watch out for giving too much space and angles for their three forwards.

Hopefully Mina will sort them out and also Keane will get his head on a corner or free-kick.

This time, hopefully Silva and Brands will have prepared well for our visit to our old ground. Injuries permitting, let's go for it, but we need calm and vision in the box and at the moment Sigurdsson and Richarlison are the ones we are relying on so all the team must start chipping in.

Here's to a good week for Evertonians.

When I watch any game, the result is not predicated on the reputation (great or small) of who we are playing, and how much money they have, so much as how the 90 minutes pans out on the day. My main focus for judging our performance is what happens during that 90 minutes. The quality of play, judged versus the ability of the players, the chances created and missed, the mistakes that, in games of fine margins, often dictate outcomes.

When you have a new manager, a new Director of Football who really means business, a whole new regime at Goodison Park / the Royal Liver Building / USM Finch Farm, last season becomes thankfully relegated to the dismal annals of ancient history, aeons away from where we are now.

Of course it's better than last season. Thankfully, the team and the club have moved way beyond that absolute garbage. But, judging by comments like yours on here, some of the fans haven't and they still want to rationalise away the impediments to our progress.

"3 points next Sunday" — how's that going to happen if they are still "considerably further ahead of us in terms of squad development, finances, investment, etc"? You certainly don't stand any chance of beating them if you go to Anfield with that mealy mouthed attitude. How is it one iota different from "knife to a gunfight"?

If we beat an undefeated Liverpool at their place, the media will immediately swap “plucky” with “up-and-coming Everton under bright young manager Marco Silva”.

They'll have no choice.

A massive statement of who we are and where we are going awaits.

And Mike Gaynes will definitely be in a gimp basement tied up and unable to leave Liverpool.

Let's just hope we can pull it off next Sunday!

And a pint! Hahaha!!!

The way we've settled since Silva took over has been a hella of a lot quicker than them when Klopp took over. They've won fuckall for years, and I can't see why we shouldn't be able to beat them. Provided the ref isn't in their pockets.

It's got nothing to do with belittling us as "plucky little Everton" and everything to do with the reality of the top of the Premier League as it currently is, where we currently are and how far the playing field has shifted in just the last couple of years.

We patently are further behind those top five/six teams in terms of "squad development, finances, investment, etc," and the Arsenal (a), Chelsea (a) and, to a lesser extent, Manchester United (a) games were cases in point, ones that underlined the greater quality that each side possesses on the one hand and the fact that we still lack consistent quality/belief/consistency going forward on the other.

Three excellent chances against Chelsea? We had one shot on target in the second half and three half-chances in the first (Gomes's header off a corner, the ball from a free-kick that Mina was a yard or so away from and Bernard's effort from outside the box that flew wide). That performance was all about frustrating them rather than us really looking like winning it, which, again, is fine given the progress to date under Silva.

Now, does it mean we can't go to Anfield and win on Sunday? Does that mean we go there not looking to win? Of course not but an awful lot of things are going to have to go right for us to get three points. The quality is there but we are going to have to shut down their best players for 90 minutes which is a tall order.

They may not be on top, top form this season but this Liverpool side is arguably the best they've had since we last won a derby on their patch and they have had three seasons under Klopp to get to where they are. We're still less than four months into Silva's reign.

That's just reality; that's the gap we have to bridge. We can do it but I don't think anyone with any common-sense perspective on the differences between the two teams should be expecting us to win on Sunday. Hoping and willing them to? Abso-friggin'-lutely!

Yet, the fact remains that, until we win again, I am grimly reminded of how confident/good form we have been in previous years in the run-up to a derby, only to have an anti-climax.

This has occurred on a few occasions since 2010 (2012 Semi, the 3-3 and 0-4 Martinez derbies, the 1-1 when Rodgers was sacked).

Like Lyndon, I will be roaring the Blue Boys on, and won't be taking a knife to a gunfight.

I will take a re-enforced spear with a poison tip, capable of doing damage if my aim is true.

I think only three players started v Cardiff who started the last League Anfield derby: Pickford, Gueye and Sigurdsson.

We are likely to have a completely different back four and forward line up and they are all an upgrade on last season.

Hope springs eternal!

What irked me with John's response to my original comment is his inherent expectation not to win at these places — that thinking we could have won at Chelsea "is delusional" and calling even a fully merited point "unlikely" — not based on who we are, how much money we have, or how many loan players the other team have, but on how we played.

Everton have started winning and I don't give a toss how it's done. They have been in the doldrums far too long and they seem to be finally headed in the right direction.

Granted, they are far from the finished article and some more class players are needed but deservedly in the top six and ahead of Man Utd is a good sign.

The acid test may come over the next month and a good result against the RS would be most welcome. They managed to piss off Klopp last season so let's hope with this improving squad they can go one better.