It’s been a good start to the season for Everton, and arguably a better one than people realise.
There was a lot of hype around the Toffees 12 months ago when they started the campaign in the red-hot form under Carlo Ancelotti, topping the Premier League table across the opening weeks, leading to plenty of media hype tipping his side to compete with the elite for the Champions League places.
Yet after their impressive 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford, Rafael Benitez’s Everton side are actually a point better off than they were at the same stage of the last campaign.
It’s of course very early days, and almost definitely too soon to draw up any definitive conclusions, but form thus far does point to positive signs for the Blues this season.
READ MORE: What Everton did after Scott McTominay's 'disrespectful' foul on Lucas Digne
And one in particular has been their ability to overcome initial adversity in matches - more specifically, finding a route back into games after falling behind.
Everton games last season seemed to follow a very familiar pattern, with the opening goal often proving decisive in terms of the match result.
They won 16 of the 19 league games in which they scored the game’s opening goal (D2, L1). But won only one of their 17 in which the opposition broke the deadlock (W1, D4). That amounted to just seven points won from these initial losing positions.
There were a number of factors behind Everton’s struggles in this regard, though a big one was an inability to break sides down, a task that became that bit tougher when opponents had a lead to protect.
This season however, things look different. And their point secured after falling behind on Saturday at Old Trafford meant they’ve already this season matched the seven points won after conceding first across the whole of the last campaign under Ancelotti.
Again, it’s early in the season to make any truly accurate long-term assessments, yet early indications based on what we’ve witnessed in matches, plus what we’re seeing in the underlying numbers, do paint Everton as a far more threatening attacking side than last year.
They are on average shooting more (12.86 per 90) than they were last season (10.39 per 90), and are accumulating a higher xG average (1.62 per 90) than the last term too (1.37 per 90).
This improvement feels significant, especially given the notable omission of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in recent matches, something that should have put the side at a significant handicap.
What’s softened the exclusion of both though has been the displays of Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend, both proving to be the rapid attacking profiles that Everton missed last season.
They’ve been complimented by a rejuvenated Abdoulaye Doucoure who’s been a driving attacking force from the heart of midfield this season.
Whilst there’s still a long way to go, and plenty more tough tests ahead, Everton under Benitez are laying the groundwork for what has the potential to be a very strong campaign.
They like last season are picking up positive early results, but they’re also combining them with good performances, something that’s key for good form to be maintained.
Even despite periods of good form, Everton’s performances under Ancelotti last season rarely impressed, and the eventual 10th placed finish hardly came as a surprise.
But hopefully, the team look to be on the right track to significantly improve on that mediocre league finish this time around.
