- Everton continue their European push with a visit to West Ham this weekend.
- Defeat by Liverpool did not help their cause but league table remains very tight.
- Supporters crave a return to the continental stage but is it essential for the Blues?
Everton’s bid for European football took a blow after their defeat against Liverpool, but they will look to get back on track at the London Stadium this weekend.
With West Ham United battling to save their Premier League status, the Toffees will find tough resistance in East London as their opponents look to get one over on their former manager, David Moyes.
The Scotsman enjoyed European success with the Hammers and would dearly like to repeat this with his current side.
A victory on Saturday would take the Blues a step closer to their European goal, but is it imperative that they secure qualification this season?
Europe has attractions but also added difficulties
Moyes has made it clear that Europe is a focus for his team, and they will be doing all they can to get there.
This is no shock, as any side wants to finish as high as they can in the league, and a finish near the top means a spot in Europe.
But when considering Everton’s last two European campaigns, they came with difficulties that greatly harmed their domestic form.
In both the 2014-15 and 2017-18 seasons, the Toffees entered the Europa League following two impressive Premier League campaigns, yet failed to capitalise on them and suffered at both home and abroad.
A large portion of Everton’s failures in Europe boiled down to their lack of depth, and the added fixtures to the schedule meant they could not cope with the increased workload.
However, with newfound wealth and vision, it is hoped the Blues can learn from their mistakes and, with the guarantee of European football, would come the addition of more bodies to cope with the added pressures of midweek games.
On top of this, playing in Europe would help the Toffees keep hold of their finest players as they continue to rebuild.
Europe can fuel Everton but they should not get caught up in any disappointment
For Everton to be in a position where they are pushing for a finish near the top is remarkable.
In recent seasons, the end of a league campaign has usually been stressful for the men in royal blue, so the excitement of a bid for Europe brings excitement.
To achieve European qualification would be a tremendous achievement, but based on the fact that the Toffees have been battling relegation over the past few years, it is credible that they are even involved in the chatter for a spot in Europe.
A place in the Europa League or Europa Conference League would be very welcome to Hill Dickinson Stadium, but a failure to do so would not be the end of the world, but the start of more things to come.
