Peter Lynch

Mon 21 August 2023 8:10, UK

Everton have had a very disappointing start to the new Premier League campaign, with the Toffees losing their first two matches.

The Merseyside club began proceedings with a 1-0 home defeat to Fulham last Saturday (12 August), before losing 4-0 to Aston Villa on Sunday (20 August).

Toffees fans were perhaps expecting the difficulties given their transfer window struggles, with the situation at the Merseyside club looking pretty bleak.

One area in which the Toffees are having particular issues is the final third, with their troubles amplified after Dominic Calvert-Lewin was taken off in the 38th minute of the match against Villa following a collision with Emiliano Martinez.

Everton manager Sean Dyche was then faced with a big decision regarding who to replace his star man with, with the manager opting to overlook striker Neal Maupay for new arrival Arnaut Danjuma.

The on-loan Villarreal man has played centrally at times in recent years, but has largely operated as a winger throughout his career. Despite that, Danjuma got the nod ahead of striker Maupay.

The former Brighton man was handed a start against the Cottagers, but was immediately dropped by his manager for the Villa game after missing several chances on the opening day, with Calvert-Lewin back in the starting XI.

Maupay did enter proceedings at Villa Park, but only when Dyche was again forced into a change as Alex Iwobi went off injured in the 51st minute.

Maupay’s Everton future really is up in the air, but perhaps his manager has no choice but to keep him at the club given the current injury issues. The Toffees are, however, reportedly closing in on a deal for a new striker, with Southampton ace Che Adams nearing a move to Goodison Park [The Telegraph, 20 August].

In other Everton news, Michael Keane has sent a two-word message as a player announces his retirement from football.