The Liverpool club started their 2017-18 Europa League campaign with a powerful performance against Croatian side Hajduk Split. The Toffees are coming off an incredible transfer period that just got a whole lot better with the signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson. Over the weekend, Everton defeated Stoke City at Goodison Park with another strong outing and glorious game-winner from Wayne Rooney.
Everton have arguably had the best transfer window of any Premier League this summer, and have just broken a club record with the signing of Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson from Swansea. Not to mention, the Merseyside club sealed a 2-0 victory in a Europa League playoff match on Thursday.
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The superb prospects for the club are rooted in a great addition of new talent along with strong veteran leadership. Everton’s only significant loss over the summer was their superstar striker Romelu Lukaku, who didn’t need to travel far to get to Old Trafford. The loss of Gerard Delofeu to Barcelona isn’t so great for the Toffees, either.
However, in Everton’s first two matches this season, the new boys impressed as did the club’s overall performances. Jordan Pickford made three incredible saves in Thursday’s Europa League match in Liverpool. After the first goal from Michael Keane, things went haywire when away fans brought the match to a halt.
Michael Keane is another new signing that has found his rhythm with Everton very quickly. He scored the opening goal Thursday after an incredible cross from left back Leighton Baines. With Sigurdsson now in midfield, the midfield looks to be in solid shape at Goodison Park.
In the match against Stoke, Pickford made a game-defining save against Xerdan Shaqiri near the end, and Wayne Rooney snagged the only goal with a fine headed ball. With manager Ronald Koeman claiming he is open to signing Diego Costa, is a big three brewing at Goodison park with a potential Costa, Sigurdsson and Rooney trio?
Everton have a brutal set of away matches coming up, with a showdown at the Etihad on Monday against title favorites Manchester City before they travel to Croatia for the second-leg of their playoff matchup in the Europa League. August 27, Everton are in the English capital taking on the Blues at Stamford Bridge.