Article body analysed
Football writer Alex Keble assesses each Premier League club and their prospects for the 2024/25 season. Tactics. Injuries. Summer signings. Best line-ups. Find out about all 20 Premier League teams When you consider the obstacles in his path, Sean Dyche did a brilliant job steadying the ship last season. Unfortunately, he faces a similarly thorny task in 2024/25 to maintain Everton's Premier League status for another campaign as they enter their final season at Goodison Park. The collapse of a proposed takeover by the Friedkin Group leaves the Toffees in an uncertain position on the eve of the new season. But Dyche won’t complain. He didn’t in the last campaign when Everton battled through two points deductions to stay up comfortably. Expect more of the same: the Toffees stuck in a holding pattern, gritting their teeth and staying alive. FA Cup: Fourth round EFL Cup: Quarter-final Fourth: 2004/05 See: More about Everton's history Had it not been for the points deductions, Everton would have finished with 48 last season, a good return in the circumstances, but a total that Dyche will firmly believe he can improve upon. Yet there is a limit on what a club in Everton’s financial position can achieve, and anything above Premier League safety will be good enough until an investor is found. Losing Amadou Onana to Aston Villa is significant, and yet he had struggled to get into the first team towards the end of last season. We highlight the stats that show midfielder's exit may not be as damaging as it seems Jake O’Brien, a centre-back who impressed at Lyon, has been signed and might well play alongside Jarrad Branthwaite, whom Everton are hoping to hold onto. See: Clubs' summer 2024 transfers Dyche is often mislabelled as an old-school, meat-and-potatoes 4-4-2 manager. There is some truth in that – Everton play the percentages and are happy to concede possession – but Dyche is no dinosaur. Everton are more like Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid: feisty and combative, but well-drilled in a mid-block and, thanks to their strength at set-pieces, particularly good at eking out 1-0 wins. See: Latest injuries and news 19 July Sligo Rovers 3-3 Everton Report27 July Salford 2-1 Everton Reaction30 July Coventry 3-0 Everton Report3 Aug Preston North End 0-3 Everton Report6 Aug Everton 6-0 Motherwell Report10 Aug v AS Roma (H) Details Jordan Pickford; Ashley Young, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jake O’Brien, Vitalii Mykolenko; Jack Harrison, James Garner, Idrissa Gueye, Dwight Mc Neil; Abdoulaye Doucoure; Dominic Calvert-Lewin. See: More details at Everton’s online store Rapper, DJ and songwriter Big Zuu looks forward to the start of the 2024/25 Premier League season Or enter your details Incorrect email or password You have been entered into the competition. You will receive email confirmation of your entry with further details. You have already entered this competition. Please check your email for further information. You have been entered into the competition. You will receive email confirmation of your entry with further details.