The Opposition – Everton

The Opposition – Everton

Everton have endured another difficult season but there are signs that the worst is over for the Toffees.

A disastrous opening day home defeat to Arsenal (6-1) and a crippling injury list meant the Mersey Blues slipped down the table towards the relegation zone but a recent run of six league games undefeated has moved them into a mid table position and a draw against City could be enough to put them into the top half of the table.

The Toffees have not lost a game since a 2-0 home defeat to rivals Liverpool at the end of November. Since then, they have had creditable draws at home to Tottenham, where they managed a 2-2 draw after being 2-0, and Chelsea, where they came from behind twice to take a point back to Goodison Park with a 3-3 scoreline.

Last weekend, Everton were unlucky to concede a last minute equaliser at Arsenal. Leon Osman had given them a 12^th minute lead only for Denilson to equalise on 28 minutes. South African midfielder Steven Pienaar looked to have won the points for the blues but Tomas Rosicky grabbed a second equaliser for the Gunners a minute into injury time.

Everton remain the only side that have broken into the top four, a feat they achieved in the 2004/05 season. Although they have regularly been tipped to repeat that achievement, David Moyes team have often lacked the resources to sustain another assault on the Premier League’s top four.

Manager – David Moyes

 

David Moyes took over from Walter Smith in March 2002, when The Toffees found themselves in real danger of relegation. Moyes managed to steady the Everton boat and guide them to safety.

The Scotsman then guided the club to a sixth place finish the following season and was also the manager responsible for giving England striker Wayne Rooney his opportunity to shine.

Two seasons later, Moyes and Everton achieved something that no other Premier League club had achieved; they dislodged one of the top four clubs from their perch and it was even sweeter for Everton fans that the club they had replaced was Liverpool.

Everton Facts

 

The Toffees are one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888.

Their first football league match ended with a

Everton won the league championship for the first time in the 1890/91 season.

They have won the FA Cup on five occasions and finished runners up eight times.

Everton have never won the League Cup but have appeared in two finals.

Ground – Goodison Park

 

Goodison Park has been Everton’s home since it’s creation in 1892. It has hosted The FA Cup Final and several international games during the 1966 World Cup.

Goodison Park is an all-seater stadium with a current capacity of 40,157.