Everton have enjoyed a blistering start to December, having won their opening three Premier League games of the month without conceding a single goal.
It has already surpassed fans’ expectations for the busy Christmas period, in which the games truly do come thick and fast.
Clearly, for Sean Dyche and his men, that suits. They will be hoping that, by maintaining such an emphatic run, they could have the perfect foundation to achieve something truly special in the second-half of this season.
So, with Christmas Day fast approaching, here are five wishes surely on every Evertonian’s wish list…
A successful appeal
Despite other reports touting further punishment and potential administration, the club are likely still focused on appealing the first deduction handed just last month.
Having seen ten points stolen for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules by just £19m, many sections of the media rallied to debate the severe sanction.
Everton will hope to conclude that process in the new year, with a result that sees them return some, or all of those points. After all, without the deduction they would currently be sat just three points off seventh-placed Newcastle United.
Continue this form
To have put themselves in such a position of strength, they have unsurprisingly enjoyed a period of fine form of late.
As aforementioned, that three-game win streak is magnificent and unprecedented, but it only ties into the fine run that extends back as far as September.
Having won nine of their last 13 in all competitions, and with an EFL Cup quarter-final on the horizon, fans will want this form maintained at least until January comes around.
Sort out the finishing
The one key issue that continues to plague Everton is their profligacy, with such a lack of cutting-edge in front of goal having hampered them earlier in the term.
Home losses to Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers were prefaced by the hosts’ laughably high expected goal tally, and yet they would lose 1-0 on both occasions.
Although that trend has dissipated in recent matches, they still have scored just 20 goals in the league from an expected goals of 27.99. They are far from the level they will want to be at.
Jarrad Branthwaite stays at Everton
With numerous standout stars from this campaign thus far, as Vitaliy Mykolenko and Abdoulaye Doucoure have both shone, it is Jarrad Branthwaite who has instead taken the mantle as Everton’s prized asset.
A young, English, left-footed centre-back with all the physical attributes to thrive at the top level, his acclimatisation to the Premier League has been stunning. It should therefore come as no surprise to see interest build in his future.
Likely high upon any Evertonian’s wish list is to see the 21-year-old remain at Goodison Park, with his new long-term contract only aiding that notion.
A conclusion to 777 Partners’ Everton takeover
Finally, a conclusion to Everton’s protracted takeover would be widely welcomed, given how long and drawn-out the process has been.
Having agreed a deal with Moshiri back in September, the Premier League are taking their time in deliberating over their capability as owners.
Whether it be approval or not, just any kind of end to the speculation would be welcomed, to allow the club to progress forward with a clear goal in mind.
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