Premier League Mid-Season Report: Everton – Merseyside Mutiny? | OneFootball

This has been a season full of trials and tribulations for Everton. While one half of Merseyside fight for the Premier League title, the other half continue looking over their shoulder as the possibility of relegation looms over.

Season so far

Currently in fifteenth place, Everton have had a strange season so far. From going on an eight game winless run, with a 5-2 home defeat to struggling Watford the worst of the eight, to defeating Arsenal 2-1 on merit. The Toffees spent a minimal amount of money in the summer transfer window, but injuries to star players have not helped their cause either. A poor start to the season, with plenty to ponder.

The Manager

With Carlo Ancelotti jumping ship to return to Real Madrid in the summer, Everton had to find a new manager, and quick. To the anger of Everton fans, former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was appointed. It has not been the best season for the Spaniard, star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and midfield general Abdoulaye Doucoure have missed big chunks of the season, and their absences have shown.

It did start well for Everton, with three wins from their opening four league games, but since then it’s been a struggle, with only two wins in the league since then.

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Signing of the season

Demarai Gray has been the surprise positive from Benitez’s first 6 months in charge. The former Leicester City winger made a return to England after a short spell in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.

It cost Everton £2 million to secure Gray’s services, and the Englishman has certainly repaid the Toffees’ faith in him. He is Everton’s top-scorer in the Premier League with five goals, and with two assists to his name as well, he has been one of the few bright sparks from this season.

Player of the season so far

Abdoulaye Doucoure arrived at Everton in the summer of 2020 for big money, but over the last season and a half he has certainly proven his worth. The Frenchman has been superb so far this season, with two goals and four assists in the league.

He has been a powerhouse of a midfielder for the Toffees, and his absence with a broken metatarsal coincided with Everton’s drop in form. He will have one goal for the rest of the season, and that is to keep Everton up.

Most disappointing player

With his departure to Aston Villa set to be confirmed, Lucas Digne’s performances this season have dropped off significantly. After being one of the best fullbacks in the division over the last couple of seasons, Digne’s form has tailed off. His relationship with Benitez has become strained, and the Frenchman looks set to swap Merseyside for Birmingham.

Grade so far: E