Everton’s October 2024 Preview

Everton defied back-to-back point deductions midway through last season to secure Premier League survival with relative comfort.

Despite being punished twice for breaching financial regulations and suffering a long-running takeover saga, the Toffees finished 14 points clear of the bottom three in 2023/24.

Sean Dyche's impressive work in his first complete season at the helm renewed optimism on Merseyside, suggesting Everton could finally return to fight at the right end of the table this term.

Little did anyone know the second-longest top-flight tenants would grapple in the drop zone after five rounds as one of the six Premier League sides yet to get into the win column.

Dyche's job is on the line as the Toffees encounter fellow bottom-half underachievers Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in a high-stakes clash on Saturday afternoon.

If you check the leading sports betting platforms, you’d see that Dyche is the favourite to become the first Premier League manager this season to be relieved of his duties.

History backs Everton for success against Palace as they've run supreme in this fixture down the years, succumbing to just one loss in their last 19 league matches against the Eagles (W9, D9).

That doesn't mean Dyche's team can afford to take anything for granted, especially knowing how things played out in their last home outing against Bournemouth.  

Aware of the gravity of the situation, the 53-year-old manager identified this game as a 'must-win' during his pre-match conference, according to Sport Express.

It's needless to say how vital three points could be for Everton ahead of a relatively light schedule in October.

Given the circumstances, a morale-wracking loss to Southampton in midweek EFL Cup action could be a blessing in disguise for the Goodison outfit.

An early cup elimination should give Everton more freedom to focus on steadying the ship in the Premier League and try to avoid another season-long fight against the drop.

October could be a future-defining month for Dyche amid reports the Friedkin Group considers Maurizio Sarri an ideal candidate for the Toffees job (via Corriere dello Sport).

Newcastle United [Premier League, H] - 05/10/2024

Newcastle's visit to Goodison will be Everton's sternest test next month, at least on paper.

Dyche's team held the Magpies winless in both league meetings last season, including an electrifying 3-0 win in this corresponding fixture in December.

Eddie Howe's men might have won three of their first five league games this term (D1, L1), but their performances have flattered to deceive for the better part.

Without a clean sheet since a day-one win against newcomers Southampton, Newcastle have shown signs of significant vulnerability at the back in the early Premier League proceedings.

Everton could exploit those setbacks, but scoring hasn't been the Toffees' problem as much as their inability to turn first-half leads into victories.

Ipswich Town [Premier League, A] - 19/10/2024

It's inadmissible for a team of Everton's calibre to drop eight points from winning positions after only five league rounds.

Newly-promoted Ipswich have been in a similar situation twice this season, relinquishing an early advantage in a 4-1 loss at Manchester City and a 1-1 draw against Fulham.

Highly-rated manager Kieran McKenna has endured a false start to his first-ever Premier League tenure (D3, L2), and there's a chance he could see this match as a perfect opportunity to get off the mark.

Adding to McKenna's confidence, Ipswich boast an unbeaten top-flight record against Everton this century (W3, D1), though the sides last met in the Premier League in February 2002.

Fulham [Premier League, H] - 26/10/2024

Following a late 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on the opening league weekend, Fulham have gone into overdrive, racking up a four-game unbeaten run in top-flight action (W2, D2).

But the real problem in this fixture could be Everton's notorious struggles against the Cottagers in recent years.

Since a 3-2 triumph at Craven Cottage in November 2020, the Toffees haven't beaten the London club in their last five league showdowns (D2, L3), failing to score on four occasions.