2021/22 Premier League season preview: What are Everton’s aspirations under Rafa Benitez? | Football news

“To be fair, the Evertonians around me are quite happy and very supportive. Even the Liverpudlians have accepted that this is an opportunity for me to come back to the Premier League.”

The dust has settled since Rafael Benitez became just the second manager after William Edward Barclay to have Liverpool and Everton on his CV.

There was some opposition to his appointment, with Merseyside Police investigating a menacing banner that read ‘We know where you live, don’t sign’, but the Spaniard is determined to get his time on the blue half of the ditch.

“Football is quite emotional and everyone will have their opinion,” he said on his unveiling. “For me it’s a challenge, a chance to do well in the Premier League and to show everyone that we can compete.”

The club got the rug pulled from under them when Carlo Ancelotti made the brutal decision to return to Real Madrid in June, but by replacing one Champions League winner with another, Everton’s ambitions remain the same.

“To put it simply, we have to compete at the top of the league and win trophies,” majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri said defending his decision to look to Benitez as the club’s fifth permanent manager in as many years .

Moshiri has invested the bulk of £ 500million in Everton, but the construction of a stadium worth over £ 500million at Bramley Moore’s Quay means they have had to cut their fabric accordingly in the market for transfers this time around.

This should not be viewed entirely as a bad thing. The extravagant spending under Benitez’s predecessors gave indifferent results; for every shot, there was a misfire.

Cutting the current first-team payroll has been one of the priorities this summer, with Theo Walcott, Yannick Bolasie and Bernard now all gone. Others are expected to follow in the coming weeks.

Everton’s fan base is unhappy but knowledgeable. They are aware of the enormous task that Benitez has undertaken and of the transition in which the club finds itself again.

For dissenting voices, there will be no honeymoon period for their new manager. Results will be demanded from the start without compromising the desired identity of playing attractive football.

But for Benitez to leave his mark on this multi-party team, it will take patience. Everton are a club that have historically prospered by having fans in the stadium, and those supporters must now recognize the role they play in the club’s fortunes.

It has been a summer where people put themselves first. A former Liverpool manager is in the driver’s seat and it’s time to get started.

Ancelotti ultimately delivered very little, having promised a lot. Everton held the lead in the Premier League for 30 days at the start of 2020/21, helped by a seven-game winning streak in all competitions.

Then there was the 2-0 victory at Liverpool, a first away victory at Anfield in 24 visits in all competitions dating back to September 1999, which felt just right in February. Ending the expectation of a first win over the Reds in 24 games even sparked a three-game winning streak on the rebound.

Everton’s hopes of bringing European football back to Goodison Park, however, have been dashed by three wins in their last 13 games. Football at times under Ancelotti was a tough watch, and the home form was appalling –
nine losses tied the worst home comeback in club history.

Despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 16 league goals and an impressive 11 away wins, fans found themselves with a familiar feeling of underperformance after a heavy blow on the final day at Manchester City.

Moshiri has invested so much to compete with the elite, but it has laid bare the scale of the task that awaits Everton to achieve such lofty ambitions. There is an expectation for this club to come back to Europe but that should excite the players, not scare them.

Where Everton need to improve

Ancelotti appeared worryingly short of answers when asked how he could correct his team’s inability to be on the front foot without losing strength and balance. When it fell to Everton to attack, especially at home, the midfielder lacked cunning and penetration.

From November at home, the team did not have the patience to unlock a basic opposition.

Additional mobility in this area to operate alongside Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure would be welcome, but Jean-Philippe Gbamin seems to have finally put his injury issues behind him, having only made a few appearances since his arrival from 25 million. pounds sterling in 2019.

Benitez has worked hard on the training ground to address this apparent weakness, while it is in other areas where the new manager has strengthened himself.

Everton’s total sprints were down compared to their Premier League rivals, and this is a department Benitez will certainly be looking to rectify to ensure they end games stronger than they often do under his predecessor.

Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend will provide much needed breadth to a front line that was often on pace and a new right-back to compete with captain Seamus Coleman remains a priority.

What Rafa will seek to rely on

It is too simplistic to say that Everton is back to square one when there are several exciting elements in the squad that Benitez bequeathed.

Ben Godfrey thrived in his first season at the club and his regular appearances as a center-back during the preseason suggest he will be given greater responsibilities.

Jordan Pickford returns after a great summer with England at Euro 2020, and he will be looking to build on his 12 clean sheets last season.

There is a solid defensive base – an area Benitez has always emphasized during his managerial career – and the hope is that the momentum generated by a fine away record can be maintained in the news. season with supporters back in the stands.

Calvert-Lewin has had a breakthrough season having developed well under Ancelotti, and he will thrive on newcomers to large areas brought in to provide plenty of crosses and play to his air force.

Will Richarlison suffer from burnout?

It’s clear to see why Everton asked Richarlison to forgo a vacation after his Olympic success with Brazil. The forward has resumed training at Finch Farm after just winning gold at Tokyo 2020 with his country.

The victory over Spain in the final was his 15th international game of the summer after also reaching the final of the Copa America, a tournament which began shortly after completing his 40th and final game for his club during the 2020/21 season.

But with Calvert-Lewin missing the 4-0 defeat to Manchester United last weekend with a minor toe injury, Everton looked hopelessly short of focal point.

The club have agreed with the player that he will resume training after concluding his commitments with Brazil, where he was the Olympics top scorer with five goals.

Benitez knows he needs to protect the 24-year-old from burnout this quarter, but he is aware of the team’s over-reliance on him.

Moreover, Richarlison has a good record against Southampton, Everton’s opponents on Matchday 1, scoring the only goal in their last meeting in March to add to his two other winners against the Saints.

Indeed, Everton have a winning percentage of just 11.1 without the striker compared to 41.9 when he appeared. Benitez knows he has to get into the race since his nomination has not been universally popular, but at what cost?

What summer business has been done?

In

Andros Townsend – Crystal Palace, free

Asmir Begovic – Bournemouth, free

Demarai Gray – Bayer Leverkusen, £ 1.6million

Outside

Theo Walcott – Southampton, free

Callum Connolly – Blackpool, Free

Josh Bowler – Everton at Blackpool, free

Joshua King – contract expired

Yannick Bolasie – contract expired

Muhamed Besic – contract expired

Robin Olsen – end of loan

Dennis Adeniran – contract expired

Matthew Pennington – contract expired

Con Ouzounidis – contract expired

Bobby Carroll – contract expired

Bernard – Sharjah FC, undisclosed

Lewis Gibson – Sheffield Wednesday, loan

Friendly pre-season results

• Everton 3-0 Accrington Stanley – Saturday July 10, Finch Farm
• Everton 1-0 Blackburn Rovers – Saturday July 17th, Finch Farm
• Everton 1-1 Millonarios (10-9 on pens) – Sunday July 25, Camping World Stadium, Florida
• Everton 1-0 Pumas – Wednesday July 28, Camping World Stadium, Florida
• Manchester United 4-0 Everton – Saturday August 7, Old Trafford

What are Everton’s first six games in PL?

August

• 2: Southampton (h) – 3:00 p.m.
• 21: Leeds (a) – 3 p.m.
• 28: Brighton (a) – 3 p.m.

September

• 13: Burnley (h) – 8:00 p.m., live on Sky Sports
• 6: Aston Villa (a) – 5.30 p.m., live on Sky Sports
• 25: Norwich (h) – 3:00 p.m.