Premier League preview: Top six place a real possibility for ambitious Everton

Almost every signing Marco Silva made last summer took Everton closer to the top six. If he can work his magic again, Everton could even end up ruffling the feathers of the top guns.

Published : Aug 08, 2019 21:51 IST

Marco Silva's maiden season in Merseyside saw Everton finish behind the top six and a resurgent Wolves side.
Marco Silva's maiden season in Merseyside saw Everton finish behind the top six and a resurgent Wolves side.
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Marco Silva's maiden season in Merseyside saw Everton finish behind the top six and a resurgent Wolves side.

Everton's aim, as it has been for the last few years, will be to consolidate a European spot — and maybe challenge the top six.

Marco Silva's maiden season in Merseyside saw Everton finish behind the top six and a resurgent Wolves side. A season that started on a promising note and ended on a high, could've been as memorable as it promised to be if not for the mid-season blues.

Looking to build on a relatively strong first season, Silva has spent the well to build a team capable of making into European places. The club did well to sign Andre Gomes on a permanent deal, despite strong interest from West Ham, and brought in some experience in the form of Fabian Delph from Manchester City.

With Idrissa Gueye finding a new home in Paris Saint-Germain, the club has done well to replace him with promising Mainz midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin. The £30 million acquisition of Juventus teenager Moise Kean should take the goalscoring burden off Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson, while the (unsuccessful) pursuit of Wilfred Zaha only highlights the club's ambitions.

In free agent Jonas Lossl, the club has found an able back-up to No. 1 Jordan Pickford, and the Portuguese can rotate his squad without losing the quality. However, Kurt Zouma, who was an integral part of the defence that conceded the least number of goals outside the top four last season, has returned to Chelsea after his loan spell and the club's search for his replacement only hit dead ends. The Toffees were close to signing Chelsea's Fikayo Tomori on loan but the deal fell through because of David Luiz's potential exit from Stamford Bridge.

Every signing Silva made last summer took Everton closer to the top six, with the exception of Yerry Mina who was injured for most of the season. If he can work his magic again, Everton could well end up ruffling the feathers of the established top six.

 

Premier League fixtures

10 - Crystal Palace v Everton

17 - Everton v Watford

23 - Aston Villa v Everton

31 - Everton v Wolves

September

15 - Bournemouth v Everton

21 - Everton v Sheffield United

28 - Everton v Manchester City

October

5 - Burnley v Everton

19 - Everton v West Ham

26 - Brighton v Everton

November

2 - Everton v Tottenham

9 - Southampton v Everton

23 - Everton v Norwich City

30: Leicester City v Everton

December

4 - Liverpool v Everton

7 - Everton v Chelsea

14 - Manchester United v Everton

21 - Everton v Arsenal

26 - Everton v Burnley

28 - Newcastle United v Everton

January

1 - Manchester City v Everton

11 - Everton v Brighton

18 - West Ham v Everton

21 - Everton v Newcastle

February

1 - Watford v Everton

8 - Everton v Crystal Palace

22 - Arsenal v Everton

29 - Everton v Manchester United

March

7 - Chelsea v Everton

14 - Everton v Liverpool

21 - Norwich City v Everton

April

4 - Everton v Leicester City

1 - Tottenham v Everton

18 - Everton v Southampton

25 - Wolves v Everton

May

2 - Everton v Aston Villa

9 - Sheffield United v Everton

17 - Everton v Bournemouth

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