Merson questions whether Everton have improved this season
Football pundit and former Arsenal forward Paul Merson claims he doesn’t believe Everton have changed under Marco Silva, labelling them the ‘same old Everton’.
The Portuguese former Watford coach joined the Toffees in the summer and invested heavily in his playing squad, following a disappointing 2017/18 campaign that saw three different managers in the dugout for the club.
Everton currently sit in seventh place in the Premier League table, two points behind Manchester United in the European qualifying spots, almost halfway through the season.
Over the last few months, Everton have drawn praise from pundits and fans for being more resolute and showing more determination, as well as playing much better football on occasion. However the Blues haven’t won since the end of November, when they beat Cardiff City 1-0 on November 24.
Speaking prior to Everton taking on Manchester City at the Etihad this weekend, Merson has used the club’s recent run of disappointing results to question their supposed improvement under Silva.
Writing on Sky Sports, Merson said:
A lot of people are saying Everton have improved, but I’m not sure.
The first half against Liverpool they did look a different team, yes, and they were unlucky not to be ahead. Then they play Newcastle and Watford at home and fail to win either.
That’s the same old Everton we know. When they’re expected to win, I’m not sure about them.
Everton are set to face Burnley, Brighton and Tottenham before the calendar year’s end, following Saturday’s afternoon kick-off against the Cityzens.