Premier League - Football: Everton season preview

bet365 News Team Aug 04 2022

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Everton's fans will be hoping for an improved campaign as Frank Lampard prepares for his first full season in charge at Goodison Park.

The Toffees dramatically failed to live up to expectations, with their decision to hire Rafael Benitez backfiring after just five months.

While they did manage to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, they were underwhelming in the Premier League and their fanbase will expect a response this time around, while their doubters can back them to be relegated at 10/3.

What	England Premier League 2022/23
Where	England
When	5th August 2022 - 28th May 2023
How to watch	Selected matches broadcast on Sky, BT Sport and Amazon Prime
Odds	Manchester City 4/7, Liverpool 2/1, Tottenham 14/1, Chelsea 16/1, Manchester United 33/1

Where did Everton finish last season?

16th

What are Everton's hopes for the season?

Everton went into the previous campaign with hopes of European football, but this time around their fans will just want a relaxed season. The Toffees never got going last term under Benitez and he paid the price in January.

While the Toffees showed signs of promise under Lampard, they were in the relegation battle until the final few days of the campaign, and that cannot happen again if the club wants to fulfil its potential.

With a new stadium under construction, the Merseyside outfit needs to push on and aim for a mid-table spot at the very least, with the Toffees 11/4 to secure a top-half finish.

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Who are Everton's opening opponents?

Everton have been handed a tricky start to the campaign, as they will face Lampard's former club, Chelsea, on Saturday 6th August. Their chances have been improved by the fact they will start the season at home, but they would have liked an easier opening fixture.

The Toffees are 15/4 to win on home turf, the draw is 14/5, while the Londoners are expected to leave Merseyside with all three points at 8/11.

When are Everton's key fixtures?

The first Merseyside derby will take place on Saturday 3rd September, with Everton welcoming Liverpool to Goodison Park for a 12:30 kick-off, while their final game before the World Cup break comes away from home against Bournemouth on Saturday 12th November.

Lampard's side have been handed a home fixture on Boxing Day, with the club's first match back after the World Cup coming against Wolves.

The second Merseyside derby takes place in February against Liverpool, while they will end the campaign on home turf against the Cherries on Sunday 28th May.

Who is Everton's manager?

Lampard has only been coaching since 2018, but he has already been around the block during that short time.

The former England international enjoyed an incredible career as a player, but as a coach he has had to do it the hard way. He led Derby to the Championship play-offs in his first spell as a manager before moving on a year later to coach Chelsea.

While he led them to an FA Cup final in his first season, Lampard's return to Stamford Bridge did not go to plan and he continues to try and prove himself as a coach at the highest level.

The 44-year-old will hope to receive the backing from Everton's board and the former goalscoring midfielder could do with a confidence boost this season.

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What players have Everton signed?

James Tarkowski (free)
Dwight McNeil (Burnley)
Ruben Vinagre (Sporting Lisbon, Loan)
Conor Coady (Wolves, Loan)
Amadou Onana (Lille)

Which players have left Everton?

Richarlison (Tottenham)
Jonjoe Kenny (Hertha Berlin)
Cenk Tosun (Besiktas)
Jarrad Branthwaite (PSV Eindhoven, Loan)
Joao Virginia (SC Cambuur, Loan)
Fabian Delph (Released)
Andy Lonergan (Released)
Ellis Simms (Sunderland, Loan)
Tyler Onyango (Burton Albion, Loan)
Ryan Astley (Accrington, Loan)
Lewis Dobbin (Derby, Loan)
Nathan Broadhead (Wigan, Loan)

Who are Everton's key players?

Star player	Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Potential top scorer	Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Set-piece king	Anthony Gordon
Exciting youngster	Anthony Gordon

Everton's decision to sell Richarlison has opened up further opportunities for members of their squad this season.

The Brazilian was their top goalscorer last season, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin will hope to get himself back amongst the goals after spending most of the 2021/22 campaign on the sidelines through injury.

The England international is 40/1 to finish as the top goalscorer in the Premier League, but he will need help from the likes of Dele Alli, Andros Townsend, Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon.

Gordon burst on to the scene last season, and the 21-year-old has caught the attention of numerous Premier League clubs. For now, he remains an Everton player and if he stays put the Merseysiders know they can rely on him for a few goals.

Reports suggest Everton are trying to tie Gordon down to a new contract, while there is still time for the club to add some new faces before their opening fixture against Chelsea in August.

Which of Everton's players will be going to the World Cup?

Everton's squad will break up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in November and Lampard will get the chance to work with those left behind.

After Scotland and Ukraine failed to qualify, Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko will stay put this winter.

Jordan Pickford has every chance of being England's number one goalkeeper this winter and he will compete with Aaron Ramsdale for the starting spot.

Should Calvert-Lewin rediscover his magic touch in front of goal, he could also be named in Gareth Southgate's final Three Lions squad. The Everton forward has four goals in 11 senior appearances for England.

Midfield duo Allan and Andre Gomes have played for Brazil and Portugal in the past, but they are not thought to be in contention and would need a blockbuster start to the campaign to improve their chances of being selected.