Everton looked like a club reborn to begin Sean Dyche’s first full season in charge, but they couldn’t make any of it count as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday.
[ WATCH: Premier League on Peacock ]
Alas, the Toffees failed to convert any of their 2.84 xG into aG, and Fulham executed another one of their patented smash-and-grabs to start the 2023-24 Premier League season just as they spent all of last. Only Leeds (relegated) and Everton (17th) finished with a worse xGA last season, but the Cottagers rode their luck to a top-half finish that flew in the face of most, if not all, advanced stats.
After Neal Maupay missed a series of chances and was subbed off in the 72nd minute, Bobby De Cordova-Reid finally broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute. Before the game’s only goal was scored, the xG tally stood at 2.23 for Everton, and 0.21 for Fulham. Lopsided, to say the least.
Everton still a center forward away
Small sample size and all other requisite disclaimers aside, Everton played fantastically well against Fulham. They pressed high initially (often winning the ball back) before retreating into a lower block more synonymous with Dyche-ball. The main difference on Saturday was how quickly they transitioned and got the ball into the opposition penalty area. To put it bluntly, they should have been two or three goals ahead themselves before Fulham broke the deadlock.
Maupay, who started up top for the Toffees, put all three of his shots on target straight at Bernd Leno. He needed to score at least one, if not two, of them. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin still working his way back to match fitness (and notoriously unreliable to stay fit and healthy), Everton probably need to target another goalscorer between now and the end of the transfer window.
What’s next?
Everton will look for their first win (or point) of the season next Sunday, when they travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa. Fulham will have their hands full when west London rivals Brentford visit Craven Cottage on Saturday.
How to watch Everton vs Fulham live, stream link, time
Kick off: 10am ET, Saturday (August 12)
TV channel: Peacock
Online: Watch online via Peacock Premium
Courtesy of our friends at FotMob.com, here are the players ratings out of 10.
It was all — and I repeat all — Everton from minute 1 to minute 72. The 73rd minute, however, belonged to Fulham and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
James Tarkowski was deemed to have found Bernd Leno, but it would appear that Leno spilled the ball before any contact was made and held onto the Everton defender to created the appearance of being foul. A massive let-off for Fulham, who have been under siege from the opening whistle.
Should this goal have stood for Everton?
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 12, 2023
📺: @peacock pic.twitter.com/MfoaWPOCqC
23/24 is here. 👀#EVEFUL pic.twitter.com/vfQYUbP8Vn
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 12, 2023
Your Toffees for #PL matchday one! 👊#EVEFUL 🔵 pic.twitter.com/2hbvI6DdnT
— Everton (@Everton) August 12, 2023
Marco Silva has revealed that Aleksandar Mitrovic has been back in training with the team this week after making a few appearances at the end of preseason and is ready to be selected despite having his head turned by a potential move to Saudi Arabia this summer:
“This week again [Mitrovic] was working every single day with his teammates. And that’s it. He’s ready to play, if I’m going to decide to start with him or not.”
“We had a moment where I spoke with him. I know him very, very well. I will not hide from you that one offer that he received made him think, made him probably take some type of decisions.
“About not playing one more minute for Fulham, he never said [that] to anyone inside this football club. If this is what the press said or what his relatives said, I’m not sure. For me and for the Club, he never mentioned that. Never.
“But okay, people can say what they want. It was a situation where he had a clear offer from a club, a very good offer for him, and sometimes it’s not easy for them to keep the focus, even if you want them to keep the focus.
“Since he started to work with his teammates again, on the pitch again, he’s been the Mitrovic that I know.”
Sean Dyche discusses his aims for Everton this season:
“Our aim is to be better this season than the last, well, the last couple of seasons. In my time here we have done enough good work to make sure we stayed in the division, that was the biggest challenge,” Dyche said.
“From there, can we take some of the stuff we have learnt from that forward and improve? I have confidence we can do that. Having a preseason with the players, a few came in late due to internationals and a couple of injuries but generally, having a preseason with them [helps]. Hopefully, rubbing off more of what we want from them.
“Plus, some of the things that I think are important. The truth of it will be when the whistle blows but so far during preseason, it’s been a pretty solid preseason with some good performances and a good energy and belief in what we are doing. We want that to go into the first game, and beyond.”
Influential midfielder Joao Palhinha is recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered in preseason and is expected to be back in a few weeks’ time.
Andreas Pereira is close to returning too as he needs match fitness after fracturing his ankle. Tom Cairney has suffered a hamstring injury and is a doubt.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is likely to feature as he has returned to action in preseason and Marco Silva said he is now ‘the Mitro I know’ after a strange summer for the Serbian striker.
After revealing his desire to leave Fulham for a move to Saudi Arabia, he is now back in the fold. New signing Raul Jimenez may start up top for the Cottagers with Mitro coming off the bench.
Everton almost have Dominic Calvert-Lewin back fit and when that happens it will be a huge boost for Sean Dyche.
Dwight McNeil (ankle) and Seamus Coleman (knee) are out injured, while Dele Alli is continuing his recovery from injury and getting the support he needs from Everton for the issues he revealed he is facing off the pitch.
New signing Arnaut Danjuma and key defender James Tarkowski should be fit to feature.