Narrowly avoiding relegation in 2021-22, Everton head into 2022-23 under a cloud of uncertainty.
Frank Lampard is one of the favourites to be the next Premier League manager to leave. Richarlison has left for Tottenham.
Anthony Gordon is attracting interest, and it’s unclear where the Toffees are heading in the short and medium-term.
Everton are a sports betting outsider to finish in the top half. Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Brighton all have shorter odds.
While it was a dramatic escape under Lampard last season, the overall results were nothing particularly impressive.
A total of 20 points from 18 matches in the Lampard era doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence – just four teams conceded more goals from 1st February onwards.
Quiet Window So Far
After the indulgent spending of the early Farhad Moshiri years, the purse strings are considerably tighter at Goodison Park.
Everton cashed in on Richarlison, but have yet to spend on a transfer fee this summer, with James Tarkowski’s arrival on a free being the lone addition.
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They are one of several clubs in the Jesse Lingard sweepstakes, and there is reported interest in another Burnley player in Maxwel Cornet, who has a release clause of £18 million.
For all the investment in the first-team squad over the last few windows, Everton are desperately short on quality heading into the new campaign.
Struggles In Attack
The attack is the largest weakness at the moment, especially after landing Tarkowski to reinforce the heart of the defence.
Lampard is dependent on Dominic Calvert-Lewin being fit and in-form after losing Richarlison. Dele Alli didn’t impress after signing in January.
Wing duo Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend are capable of the spectacular, but it’s not a partnership that will carry the Toffees towards the top half.
A very limited budget is making it hard for Everton to compete for players, so the personnel isn’t likely to change considerably.
It is a challenge of Lampard’s managerial ability to generate an effective attack out of what he has. If he cannot do so, Everton are seldom going to be backed in Premier League predictions.
How Can Everton Improve?
There are a lot of areas to work on after finishing with just 39 points.
Lampard oversaw some backs-to-the-wall defensive performances in the closing weeks of the season, but is this defence sufficient to compensate for an underpowered attack?
Allan wasn’t exactly a rock in front of the defence last term, and there’s considerable reliance on Tarkowski given Yerry Mina’s inconsistent availability.
At the other end of the pitch, Calvert-Lewin being fit for 30+ league matches is their clearest path to improvement after he started just 15 times in the league in 2021-22.
Everton Prediction for 2022/23:
Not many Everton players are going to feature in FPL preseason tips. The betting markets are spot on here – it would be a surprise to see the Toffees near the top half come April.
Barring multiple significant arrivals before the window shuts, Everton are lined up for another year looking over their shoulders rather than exhibiting any ambition.
Don’t be surprised to see another managerial change on the blue half of Merseyside.
Everton Premier League prediction: Relegation scrap
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
