View: Everton need to become ruthless to meet Champions League ambition
Following back-to-back wins against Liverpool and Southampton in the Premier League, Everton have built themselves a strong platform ahead of this season’s final stretch.
The Toffees are currently seventh in the Premier League table, though they are only two points behind fourth placed West Ham with a game in hand.
However the club must now ensure that they don’t become complacent, with qualification to the Champions League still a very real possibility.
Time and time again, we have fallen victim to disappointing results on the heels of successful performances. League losses to Fulham after beating Tottenham in the FA Cup exemplify those routine failings that continue to hold the club back.
Following successive league wins, the Blues now face West Brom at the Hawthorns on Thursday, and that game will prove to be a major test for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Logic would suggest that, as an underperforming relegation-threatened side with a few injury concerns, Albion are there for the taking. Everton have the talent, the form and the manager to overcome what could be a fairly small hurdle on their way to success. History however paints another picture.
Twice this season Everton have seen 17th placed Newcastle end a run of positive results, while West Ham also proved spoiler in January.
The Blues consistently seem to be eased by positive results to the degree in which they don’t bring the same level of desire and intensity into games against so called ‘lesser’ opposition.
Manchester City are currently the best team in the country, not just because they have an extraordinary amount of talent in their squad, but also because they ruthlessly dispatch opponents without allowing for any slip-ups.
If Everton want to achieve European qualification this season, particularly if they want that European competition to specifically be the Champions League, then Everton can’t afford to let up – we have to become ruthless too.
In other Everton news, Tottenham appear set to rival Everton for the signature of Real Madrid winger Lucas Vasquez.