Everton’s next five games will be a barometer of how far the club has come under David Moyes. The Toffees are set to play the current top five in the Premier League consecutively. Results in this run of games will help the club assess where improvements are needed to go to the next level.
April Fixtures To Test How Far Everton Have Come
Everton Under David Moyes
There is newfound hope among the Goodison Park faithful. The new owners, The Friedkin Group, were quick to make their presence felt when they sacked Sean Dyche. Appointing David Moyes was seen as a sideways move, hiring a manager who had left the club 12 years prior.
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But after a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa early in his second tenure the team has gone on an undefeated run. They have not lost in their last nine Premier League games (4W 5D) and are now all but mathematically safe from relegation. Something crucial not just because Everton have only been relegated twice but because they have avoided opening their new stadium in The Championship.
Moyes’ slight tweaks and change in tactics have shown promise to help the club climb the table with a look into next season. But the upcoming fixtures will truly test how far the club has come under new management.
How Will Everton Stack Up In The April Fixtures
All of the next five games for Everton will likely follow a similar pattern. The Toffees will rely on their defence to keep them competitive against teams higher up the table. It is not unlike Dyche’s system that saw him earn a point against three of the top five in the reverse fixtures.
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It will be on the other side of the pitch that will show if Everton has improved against top teams. They are missing their two most creative players with Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye currently sidelined with long-term injuries.
Moyes’ ability to adapt despite this has kept the team rolling. But the trio of wingers up for selection in Jesper Lindstrom, Jack Harrison and Carlos Alcaraz have just four goal contributions between them, half of them to Alcaraz who joined in the January transfer window.
A lack of depth going forward and a new injury to Vitaliy Mykolenko provides a fresh set of challenges that will ultimately show where the club stacks up on the field.