Everton have only lost two games in 2017 – against Tottenham and Liverpool. Those games have proven that the Toffees can’t match it against the cream of the crop yet.
Everton have gone from Champions League possibilities, to the best of the rest in the space of two critical matches. The Toffees’ 3-1 defeat to local rivals Liverpool last Saturday established the fact that Everton are not fearless in crunch time.
They have been in stellar touch in 2017, but it is their losses against quality sides Tottenham and Liverpool that really hurt. Harry Kane stole the show for Tottenham, and whilst Everton was forced to field an in-experienced side against Liverpool, the performance was non-existent.
Mentally and statistically, Anfield haunts Everton. The club have not won there in 39 meetings and have now lost the last two meetings 3-1 and 4-0. Fearless? Definitely not. In their most recent losses, there are two big plays that stood out.
Joel Robles’ rash throw to defenders against a pressing Tottenham team gifted Spurs the match-winner. Whilst in the match against Liverpool, two of Everton’s three central defenders neglecting the attacking reds, which then allowed Divock Origi plenty of time to slam home an easy goal.
Yes, everyone makes mistakes. But they were at critical stages of the match when Everton were on the offensive move. Key moments. Everton have failed to live up to the expectations in big games, and just cannot go up another gear against the upper echelon of the Premier League.
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On Tuesday night, the Toffees did lead the majority of the match against Manchester United, until a late Ashley Williams penalty gifted the Red Devils a point. Everton did also come have two good results against Manchester City. There has been the odd high point in big games.
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But in the first half of the season, they were also thrashed by Chelsea 5-0 at Stamford Bridge. Whether it is a lack of grunt, or certain players not stepping up on the big occasions, Ronald Koeman has some big-game issues to address.
Koeman has developed a wonderful squad in the space of eight months, and just like other clubs, they will need to add more depth to the squad. Maybe that is the issue? Everton have had injury problems in the last week and a half, and they are crying out for talent.
Besides the injuries, they have only lost two of the twelve Premier League games on offer this year. They have the form, they just can’t seemingly take it up a notch when necessary. Koeman’s first plan of attack this summer will be figuring out how to be break the big-game hoodoo.
Be ruthless, don’t be afraid of what Anfield is and treat those games just like every other match. Don’t be so easily beat, when in-between the Tottenham and Liverpool matches, they scored seven goals to zero against Hull City and West Brom.
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Address it, work on it and fix the non-apparent fearless approach. That has to be the philosophy for Everton if they ever want to win more often at Anfield, Old Trafford and the four other big grounds.
Everton still have Arsenal at the Emirates to finish off the season. A building block or two can still be laid with a win against the Gunners to start a new era.