The 2022/23 season was a tumultuous one for Everton. The supporters had little to cheer about but would have been relieved to see their side avoid relegation at the death.
A chaotic campaign plagued by managerial mediocrity and a lack of ambition from the club hierarchy nearly plunged the Toffees into the abyss.
Sean Dyche’s arrival marked the start of a potential resurgence. Despite winning just five of his 18 games in charge, he managed to rescue them from the brink of despair.
The primary objective will now be to restore the club to its former status. But Dyche will have to get everyone pulling in the same direction to realise their ambitions.
Here is our Everton season preview for 2023/24. You can also check out our detailed Premier League season previews for all 20 teams.
Everton Fixtures
Everton take on Fulham (H), Aston Villa (A) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) in their opening three fixtures of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
The first Merseyside derby is scheduled for October 21, when Everton visit Anfield to take on Liverpool before heading into a challenging run of fixtures in December.
The Toffees face Nottingham Forest (A), Newcastle United (H), Chelsea (H), and Burnley (A) before the festive period, but it gets tougher for Dyche’s side.
They head to Tottenham Hotspur two days before Christmas. They then host treble winners Manchester City on Boxing Day before closing out the month with a trip to Wolves.
Everton kick off 2024 by playing host to Villa before welcoming Liverpool to Goodison Park for their reverse Merseyside derby clash on March 16.
The Toffees face newly promoted Sheffield United in their final home game before rounding off the campaign with a trip to Arsenal on May 19.
Manager
Dyche brought a renewed sense of optimism when he arrived at Goodison Park, considering the fans had seen their side win just three out of 20 matches under former manager Frank Lampard.
Although Dyche only won five out of 18 games in charge, he did manage to maintain Everton’s remarkable top-flight run of 71 consecutive seasons without relegation.
The Englishman has built a reputation as a relegation specialist over the years, but it remains to be seen if he’s the right man to lead the Toffees after their recent catastrophic fall from grace.
However, for him to succeed, his ambition must be matched by the board. Otherwise, the Everton fans could be in for another rollercoaster ride in the relegation zone this year.
There are still several gaping holes in the squad, and wholesale changes may be required to get the team firing on all cylinders again.
Transfer Business
After last season’s near miss, one would think Everton would be quite busy reinforcing their underwhelming squad, but there has been very little to report about their summer business to date.
The Toffees have yet to dip into their purse, but they have added two new faces to Dyche’s squad after signing Ashley Young on a free transfer and former Spurs flop Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal.
None of these acquisitions will get the fans off their feet, and Everton will need to do more this summer to avoid getting dragged into another relegation scrap this year.
Although Young has a wealth of Premier League experience under his belt from his time at Watford, Manchester United and Villa, his acquisition is still puzzling.
Signing a 38-year-old defender to provide defensive depth shows signs of yet another poor decision-making from the board, and they cannot risk the wrath of the supporters any further following last season’s fiasco.
Danjuma failed to impress in North London, so it is too early to start touting him as a potential headline performer for Dyche’s side. But he could surprise a few if he finds his feet.
However, Everton’s squad remains devoid of quality, and they desperately need more reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
Yerry Mina, Andros Townsend, Asmir Begovic, and Tom Davies are the notable departures thus far, with the quartet running down their contracts at the Merseyside club.
Conor Coady, whose loan from Wolves expired, could also be a huge miss for the club. He was a regular presence in the backline and contributed to their respectable defensive record.
Starting XI
Dyche was fond of tweaking his structure last season, but he predominantly favoured a 3-4-2-1 system, which was crucial to their survival.
However, Everton’s underwhelming summer business means there shouldn’t be too many changes from a side that barely kept their noses above water.
Jordan Pickford, who was so often the hero for the Toffees last term, should retain his place in goal after managing eight clean sheets.
With Mina and Coady leaving the club, Dyche’s back three should see a couple of tweaks, with Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey partnering the experienced James Tarkowski.
There is a lot of competition in the central midfield areas. But Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure should get the nod and provide solid cover for the defence with Dwight McNeil and Nathan Patterson on the flanks.
Alex Iwobi was Everton’s creative spark last season, registering two goals and eight assists in the Premier League and should start alongside new signing Danjuma behind the striker.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be looking to put his injury struggles behind him and lead the attack this season, with Neal Maupay providing competition.
Here is our prediction for Everton’s strongest starting XI next season:
3-4-2-1: Pickford; Keane, Tarkowski, Godfrey; Patterson, Onana, Doucoure, McNeil; Iwobi, Danjuma; Calvert-Lewin.
Star Player
Calvert-Lewin was expected to carry the goalscoring burden following Richarlison’s departure, but he has failed to live up to the task.
The 26-year-old has struggled to shake off recurring injury problems, which has significantly hampered his ability to lead the line effectively.
Last season, he struggled with knee and hamstring issues, which reduced his output to a measly two goals in 17 league appearances.
Everton may be better off looking elsewhere for a focal point, and Iwobi may need to step up to the challenge once again.
The Nigerian’s creativity was crucial to their survival last season, and he may need to take centre stage again even though he is not the consistent goalscorer Everton desperately need.
Prediction
Making a play for the top half of the table may need to wait a couple of years, with several issues needing attention at the club.
The board need to win back the trust of the supporters, and the transfer market is the best platform for them to prove they still have the club’s best interest at heart.
Everton undoubtedly need more reinforcements to avoid dancing on the edge of despair again.
Dyche’s experience should be pivotal in steering them clear of relegation danger, but the success of their season will largely depend on the strength of the squad.
That being said, unless there are more quality additions to the team, the Toffees will likely fall into another relegation battle for the third year running.
Prediction: 16th
Also Read: Detailed Premier League season previews for all 20 teams.
