Everton face three Premier League fixtures in the space of a week as part of the traditional hectic festive schedule.
The Toffees are at Sheffield United on Boxing Day before games at home to Manchester City and West Ham.
Those corresponding fixtures last season produced six points for Everton. The Toffees enjoyed a win at Bramall Lane in July, a 3-1 home loss against City in September 2019 and a 2-0 home victory over the Hammers a month later.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side also saw off West Ham 4-1 in the EFL Cup three months ago.
Everton predictions
So how many points from a possible nine will Everton get this time around? The festive period can often make or break a side’s season.
Here are our predictions.
Sheffield United (A) – Everton win
Bramall Lane was such a tough place to go last season – but it’s a different story this time around.
Chris Wilder’s side is short on confidence and firepower, and its defence is nowhere near as solid as last term. Have the Premier League elite worked the Blades out or is it simply second season syndrome?
Everton have European ambitions and this is the kind of game they have to win to realise them.
It’s likely to be a physical encounter and Ancelotti’s side will need to stand up to the Blades and show their steel.
Regardless, we think Everton have enough to come away with all three points.
Manchester City (H) – Draw
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City can be mesmerising at their best – but they haven’t reached that level often enough this season.
The side relies too much on Kevin De Bruyne to pull a rabbit out of the hat and City’s passing has slowed down and gone stale. The adventure has gone.
If Everton can channel the same resilience they showed against Chelsea earlier this month, they can earn a share of the spoils.
It’s likely to be another case of sitting deep and countering. But Dominic Calvert-Lewin can cause the likes of John Stones problems – and we see another point in the bag for the Toffees here.
West Ham (H) – Everton win
Everton thumped West Ham in the EFL Cup earlier this season.
The New Year’s Day meeting is likely to feature different personnel but Ancelotti will be gunning for the same result.
David Moyes’ West Ham are hard to beat, just like the Scotsman’s sides were when he sat in the Everton hot seat.
But home advantage may be crucial in this one, with tiredness starting to creep in from the frantic Christmas period. We’re going for another Everton win.
I’m pretty sure Everton fans will be happy if our predicted seven points are accurate. Then again, everyone tends to be a bit greedy at Christmas so perhaps we’ll see the full nine?
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