Everton has been a side that has shown quality after its initial matches under Carlo Ancelotti this season. Te signing of James Rodriguez from Real Madrid was something not a lot of Everton fans had expected, still it was one of the most defining moment for the fans. Currently sitting at 5th position with 4 wins from seven matches, they have been a side who has displayed quite an excellent performance in the start of the campaign. Since Carlo Ancelotti has taken over from Silva Everton has taken 1.48 points per match on average as compared to the 0.93 points per match under Silva.
One of the key areas of improvement in Everton is the rejuvenated midfield with James Rodriguez taking thr charge, the Toffees has been aboe to play a more effective link up plays as compared to previous seasons. Calvert-Lewin is almost halfway to the total goals of last year with five, he also added three more in a League Cup win over West Ham United on Wednesday, and Rodriguez’s quartet and Captain Seamus Coleman on the right flank, and Richarlison and Lucas Digne on the left, created 22 chances and five assists between them. The team has also had an impressive possession rate with 59%, the fourth in the league with with 2.3 passes per possession. The chance creation rate is also one of the best in the league with 0.16 shots on target per possession and with . James Rodriguez has been a better player than he showcased in his time at Madrid, with almost 85% success pass rate and 80 touches per ninety minutes. Creating 3.6 chances per ninety minutes is an exceptional stat to display for an attacking midfielder.
So far, they’ve only trailed for 21 out of 270 minutes, and none of that in the second half. On average, as they fell behind and opponents were able to park the bus, last year’s most possession-heavy teams did not handle it well. Of the top four teams in possession rate, while trailing, only Liverpool was in the top five for target differential. 1969-70, another campaign in which they won the championship, was the last time Everton won four in a row to start a league season. With four wins from four games, they sit top of the Premier League, a tally only Leicester City and champions Liverpool will equal if they earn three points in their next matches.
Although the league is still in its initial phase but the quality that Everton has showcased in the season so far has been deservedly one of the best in the leagues and if Everton continues to display what it has delivered in the starting stages can make them a top league contenders and a hope to play Champions League would be a great season for the Everton fans who has recently not got a lot to celebrate about in the past few seasons.
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