Everton are once again facing inconsistency in their performances, and a tough stretch of fixtures lies ahead as they navigate the winter months in the Premier League. Their next 10 matches are among the most challenging in the league, according to the Opta Index, with their opponents having an average rating of 92 out of 100. Teams like Leicester City, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, and Southampton have similarly difficult runs, while Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, Wolves, and Bournemouth are expected to have relatively easier schedules.
Manager Sean Dyche will be focused on reigniting the form that saw his side go five matches unbeaten earlier this season before they faltered against Southampton. With key players such as Jarrad Branthwaite—who has only started twice in the league so far—returning to fitness, Everton will need their best performers to step up in the coming weeks.
The Toffees’ upcoming schedule is daunting, with fixtures against some of the Premier League’s top clubs, including away trips to Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City, as well as home games against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. Everton will be underdogs in most of these encounters, though they managed to collect seven points from these six games last season—a return they would likely take in the current context.
While the tougher matches dominate the fixture list, there are also more manageable games. The first match after the international break sees Everton host Brentford at Goodison Park, a team they have not lost to since May 2022. Despite Brentford’s good form, they have conceded 10 goals in their last five outings, offering Everton a potential opportunity to take advantage. Following this, Everton will play Manchester United at home and face struggling Wolves, a match they will be expected to win, though Wolves will be determined to reverse their fortunes after defeating Everton in the previous season.
The final two games of this challenging run are against Nottingham Forest at home and Bournemouth away. Forest have improved this season but will face a team eager to build on their controversial win over them at Goodison Park last year. Everton also have a solid recent record against Bournemouth, including a 3-0 home victory last season, though they were narrowly defeated in the away fixture. After letting a 2-0 lead slip earlier this season, Dyche’s team will surely be motivated to exact revenge in this away match.
With both difficult and more winnable games on the horizon, the outcome of this tough winter stretch could play a significant role in shaping Everton’s fortunes for the rest of the season.
