LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and AFC Bournemouth at Goodison Park on August 31, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Everton return to Premier League action this weekend when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. The Blues have just enjoyed a free weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Bournemouth last month.
David Moyes opted to take his side to the United Arab Emirates for a warm weather training camp. The trip came following an upturn in form, with the Blues currently enjoying a 15-point cushion between themselves and the bottom three.
And our Blues jury have returned to not only have their say on this weekend’s game but also reflect on the impact made by Moyes since he returned to Goodison Park in the middle of January.
Paul McParlan – Watching Everton has become far more enjoyable
After basking in the warmth of the Dubai sunshine during their recent training camp, Everton now travel to the less exotic and certainly much cooler climes of the Black Country to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
At the start of the year, this fixture was viewed with some trepidation as a possible relegation six-pointer, which could greatly impact our season. However, times have changed for the better since then.
With 11 games remaining, Everton are 15 points clear of the relegation zone and 10 points ahead of Wolves, so this game is not quite as crucial as it appeared two months ago. Everton’s resurgence has also meant that fans have been able to relax and enjoy the football on television without having to worry about how a win for a team struggling at the bottom might affect Everton’s prospects for survival.
This is a luxury to be savoured; over the past three seasons, we have been reduced to hoping that even the likes of Liverpool could do us a favour by beating one of the teams locked in a survival struggle with us. Not anymore; we can crack open a few beers and view the football without worrying about the consequences of the result.
The warm weather break was perfectly timed for Everton. It gave the depleted squad a chance to recuperate and recharge after an intense run of fixtures and allowed injured players an opportunity to continue their rehabilitation. Is there a chance we might see Iliman Ndiaye make an appearance on Saturday?
