Can Everton finish in the top-four?

With a winning February, we investigate

Everton made headlines last month with an astonishing, and fully-deserved, win over the free-spending Manchester City. That result shocked punters and football fans alike, but it would’ve come as no surprise to followers of The Toffees, who are watching their side transform from the bottom-up.

The City win was the money shot, it announced their arrival on the big-stage, but it was by no means a freak occurrence. Take a closer look at their record until the end of January and you will see a side who waited a while to find their feet, but now that they have, are sprinting towards success.

Koeman’s team full of promise

Manager Ronald Koeman is building a team, not just to compete this season but, if the board can be persuaded to invest and keep their star players – something their failure to do has held them back for years – then the glory days will live long at Goodison Park. Four of the side who starred in that destruction against City were under 24-years-old. Two came from the famed Everton academy.

The same group ended January unbeaten in five, with wins over Leicester, Southampton and Crystal Palace added to that big tick vs Pep Guardiola’s high-earners. If that wasn’t good enough, each of those victories came without conceding a goal. They are building from the back, and utilising those young legs, full of hunger and ambition, to catch sides on the counter-attack.

February’s fixtures offer hope

Going forward there’s reason to be optimistic too. They held onto their better players during the winter transfer window, which was a major concern for fans, and even sent a few of the stars of tomorrow out to get some vital game time with seasoned professionals.