da premier bet： In the 2013/14 season, Roberto Martinez replaced David Moyes as Everton manager. The Toffees were immediately buoyed by the Spaniard’s attacking flair and ended the season in 5th place, qualifying for the Europa League.
da bet7： Things weren’t so rosy for Martinez after that, though, with two consecutive 11th placed finishes costing Martinez his job.
This season ex-Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has taken the hot seat and started in superb fashion. He has secured 10 points out of 12 with some fantastic team performances.
With talents like Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku and an injection of cash under new owner Farhad Moshiri, Everton fans are optimistic they can challenge the big clubs at the top once more and finish in a European place.
Currently soaring in third place, there have been plenty of signs that under Koeman’s stewardship Everton could not only match their finish three seasons ago but beat it.
So here are five reasons why Everton are already challengers for the top four…
THEY KNOW HOW TO BEAT TEAMS
In that 2013/14 season, Everton claimed wins against Arsenal and Chelsea as well as the double over Manchester United.
While it’s all well and good beating the big teams, however, many teams fall short when playing those below them in the table. Just ask Jurgen Klopp, whose Liverpool side have torn Leicester and Arsenal apart yet lost 2-0 to Burnley.
So far this season the Toffees have beaten West Brom, Stoke and Sunderland, who are all in the bottom half, and for the most part, have done so comfortably.
If they continue like this, Everton will be there or thereabouts come May.
A SOLID DEFENCE
After two successful seasons at Southampton, one thing Ronald Koeman can seemingly guarantee is a solid defence.
The main quality Everton were built upon during the Moyes era, the Toffees lost their resilience at the back in the last two seasons under Martinez.
Koeman seems to have found a good balance between attractive attacking football whilst remaining solid with back-to-back clean sheets in the last two games and only two goals conceded, joint best with Tottenham.
Encouragingly for the Dutchman, Mason Holgate and Ramiro Funes Mori have played well while Ashley Williams recovered from Euro 2016 duty, suggesting Everton can cope defensively when key players are out.
THEY’VE ADDED QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
When Everton’s new owners were announced, many expected the manager to splash the cash on big names.
In reality, Koeman has been relatively frugal, securing Idrissa Gueye for £7m and a bargain in Wales captain Ashley Williams for only £12m. He also brought in old favourite Maarten Stekelenburg for a small fee, with the Dutchman looking solid in goal after a disappointing spell at Southampton.
The only “big money” move was the £25m Yannick Bolasie, who Koeman should be able to get the best out of because…
KOEMAN NOT AFRAID TO MAKE BOLD MOVES
As Koeman showed on Monday night against Sunderland, he is not afraid to shake things up when necessary.
Ross Barkley, who has arguably been Everton’s star performer this season, was hooked at half-time with the score at 0-0 and replaced by Gerard Deulofeu.
The move appeared to be a success with Everton winning 3-0, but just as importantly it served as a warning that players like Barkley can no longer go AWOL for periods if they want to keep their place.
LUKAKU IS BACK
After scoring twice for Belgium in the week, Romelu Lukaku announced himself with a hat-trick against Sunderland to end an 11-match goalless streak in the league.
On paper the former Chelsea striker’s record of double figures in the last four seasons (including an Everton club-record 18 goals last campaign) is incredibly impressive.
But Lukaku is known for going on hot streaks, terrorising defences one week before going absent for the next three (just ask Fantasy Premier League managers).
With Koeman cracking the whip and the rest of the squad performing, however, Everton fans will be hoping Lukaku will topple his own record and fire them to the top.